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  4. CBP Officers Seize over $650K in Heroin at the Laredo Port of Entry

CBP Officers Seize over $650K in Heroin at the Laredo Port of Entry

Release Date
Thu, 09/29/2016

LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized a significant amount of alleged heroin, valued at more than $650,000, in two enforcement actions.

“This seizure is a great example of teamwork and the enforcement efforts conducted daily by our CBP officers,” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez, Laredo Port of Entry.  “The CBP officer’s interviewing techniques, attention to detail and enforcement tools were crucial in the interception of these hard narcotics.”

Packages containing 19 pounds of heroin seized by CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry
Packages containing 19 pounds of heroin
seized by CBP officers at Laredo Port of
Entry

The larger of the two seizures occurred on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 30-year-old female United States citizen from Kansas driving a 2004 F-250 pickup for a secondary examination. Upon a canine and physical inspection of the vehicle, CBP officers discovered 68 packages hidden within the vehicle allegedly containing a total of 19 pounds of heroin.

The second seizure occurred on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 26-year-old-female Mexican citizen taxi passenger from Guadalajara, Mexico for a secondary examination. A canine alerted to the traveler’s personal belongings. Further inspection by CBP officers resulted positive in the discovery of two packages allegedly containing a total of nine pounds of heroin.

Both seizures combined have an estimated street value of $652,000.

CBP officers seized narcotics, arrested the women and the cases were then turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021