U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized hard narcotics in four separate, unrelated incidents that totaled over $75,000,000 in street value in Laredo, Texas.
The first enforcement action occurred on July 14, 2021 at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge, after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers encountered an empty refrigerated trailer arriving from Mexico. The 2010 Freightliner was referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, resulting in the discovery of 3,740.36 pounds of methamphetamine within the trailer. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $74,806,487.
The second seizure occurred on July 14th at the World Trade Bridge, after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the cargo facility processed a daily express consignment truck with a shipment manifesting a toy car arriving from Mexico. The 2015 Freightliner and shipment were referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, resulting in the discovery of 5.68 pounds of heroin within the shipment. The narcotics combined had an estimated street value of $129,000.
The third enforcement action occurred on July 15, 2021 at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, after a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer referred a 2017 Toyota Hiace arriving from Mexico for a secondary inspection. Following a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, officers discovered a total of 17 packages containing 37.61 pounds of cocaine within the vehicle. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $291,720.
The fourth enforcement action occurred on July 15, 2021 at the World Trade Bridge, after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers encountered a truck hauling a shipment of leather seats arriving from Mexico. The 2019 Ford F-350 and shipment were referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, resulting in the discovery of 14 packages containing 38 pounds of marijuana within the shipment. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $7,760.
The four interceptions have a combined street value of $75,234,967.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized the narcotics, the van and one trailer in connection with the smuggling attempts.
