LAREDO: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Laredo Port of Entry this week discovered $72,000 in hard narcotics within the baggage of a Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) lane member during a routine compliance check.
“CBP conducts compliance examinations of the members of its trusted traveler programs under the time-honored adage ‘trust, but verify,’” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez, Laredo Port of Entry. “This positive discovery of narcotics re-affirms the need to continue to check compliance to prevent these programs from being subverted by narcotics smuggling organizations.”
Two packages containing a total of five pounds of methamphetamine seized by CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry from a vehicle driven by a SENTRI participantThe seizure occurred on Mar. 21 at Lincoln-Juarez Bridge. A CBP officer referred a 2005 Mazda CX-5 that entered via the SENTRI lane driven by a 22-year-old male U.S. citizen for a secondary inspection. During the examination, CBP officers discovered two packages in a duffel bag containing a total of five pounds of alleged methamphetamine. The narcotics have an estimated street value of $72,000.
CBP officers arrested the driver and turned him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation. The traveler’s SENTRI privileges have been revoked.
