LAREDO: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized a significant amount of alleged hard narcotics in four separate enforcement actions at the Laredo Port of Entry that carried a combined estimated value of $7,851,08
“These multiple seizures totaling nearly $8 million in hard narcotics truly exemplify our CBP officers’ hard work, experience and dedication to the CBP mission,” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez, Laredo Port of Entry.
The two latest seizures occurred on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. CBP officers at Gateway to the Americas Bridge seized 74 pounds of methamphetamine hidden within a 2006 Nissan Altima driven by a 36-year-old female Mexican citizen from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. In a separate case, CBP officers seized 118 pounds of liquid methamphetamine hidden within a 2007 Ford F-150 pickup driven by a 38-year-old-male, Mexican citizen from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. These seizures have a combined estimated street value of $3,860,694.
On Monday, April 11, 2016, CBP officers at Lincoln-Juarez Bridge referred a 1994 Ford Bronco driven by a 20-year-old-male, Mexican citizen from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas to secondary for an intensive inspection. Upon further inspection of the vehicle a total of six packages were removed from the vehicle. CBP officers seized total of 143.56 pounds of alleged crystal methamphetamine. The narcotics carry an estimated street value of $2,871,271.
The first seizure occurred on Monday, April 11, 2016, when CBP officers at Colombia-Solidarity Bridge referred a 2013 Dodge Attitude driven by a 36-year-old-male Mexican citizen to secondary for further inspection. Utilizing a non-intrusive imaging system and canines, CBP officers conducted a thorough examination and discovered 55 bundles allegedly containing heroin and cocaine. CBP officers seized a total of 42 pounds of alleged heroin and 20 pounds of alleged cocaine. The drugs carry a combined estimated street value of $1,119,120.
CBP officers seized the vehicles and narcotics. The drivers were arrested and the cases were then turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.
