CBP Officers at the Laredo Port of Entry Seize Hard Narcotics Worth Over $1.2 Million: Two Arrests

LAREDO, Texas-U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers seized hard narcotics in two separate, unrelated incidents that totaled over $1.2 million in street value.

'CBP has numerous layers of enforcement and our officers will go above and beyond to keep these illicit drugs from entering our country and affecting our communities,' said Acting Port Director Eugene Crawford, Laredo Port of Entry.

The first seizure occurred on Sunday, May 30th, at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, when a CBP officer referred a 2021 Jeep Compass for a secondary examination. The vehicle was driven by a 26-year-old female United States citizen making entry from Mexico. Following a canine and non-intrusive imaging system examination, CBP officers discovered a total of 15 packages containing 37.12 pounds of alleged cocaine concealed within the vehicle. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $286,280.

The second enforcement action occurred on Wednesday June 2nd, at the World Trade Bridge after CBP officers referred a 2005 Freightliner manifesting a shipment of charcoal for a secondary inspection. The truck was driven by a 36-year-old male Mexican citizen making entry from Mexico. Following a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, CBP Officers discovered a total of 101.58 pounds of alleged cocaine and 9.7 pounds of alleged fentanyl concealed within the tractor. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $915,360.

The narcotics combined had an estimated street value of $1,201,640.

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

Follow the Director of CBP's Laredo Field Office on Twitter at @DFOLaredo and on Instagram at @dfolaredo and also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos.