AREDO: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry seized alleged heroin this weekend valued at more than $1.2 million during an enforcement action at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge.
“This was a great interception by our frontline officers,” said Port Director Joseph Misenhelter, Laredo Port of Entry. “Hard narcotic seizures such as this one are becoming more frequent at land borders and the officers are utilizing all the tools available to locate the deeply concealed drugs.”
The interception occurred on Sunday, June 14 when a CBP officer referred a 2008 Dodge Caliber for a secondary inspection. The intensive secondary examination of the vehicle resulted in the discovery and removal of 19 bundles that allegedly contained 44 pounds of heroin concealed within the vehicle.
CBP officers seized the narcotics and the Dodge Caliber. The driver, a 62-year-old Mexican citizen from Salinas Victoria, Nuevo Leon was turned over by CBP officers to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.
CBP’s Laredo Port of Entry is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.