LAREDO, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers facilitating lawful trade encountered tractor trailers with a combined estimated street value exceeding $6.9 million in two separate enforcement operations over the weekend.
“Our frontline CBP officers utilize their training and experience along with our high-tech tools and that effective combination led to the seizure of $6.9 million in cocaine in the cargo environment,” said Acting Port Director Andrew Douglas, Laredo Port of Entry.
“The ability to facilitate lawful trade and travel while maintaining a robust enforcement focus is a critical element to our border security mission.”
The first seizure took place on Friday, Oct. 16 at the World Trade Bridge when a CBP officer referred a tractor trailer hauling a shipment of aluminum scrap for a secondary inspection.
Utilizing a canine and non-intrusive imaging system, CBP officers discovered 135 packages containing a total of 337 pounds of alleged cocaine within the shipment.
A second seizure also occurred at World Trade Bridge on the same day when a CBP officers encountered a tractor trailer hauling a shipment of aluminum scrap. CBP officers utilized a non-intrusive imaging system, conducted a canine inspection and discovered 223 packages containing a total of 567 pounds of alleged cocaine within the shipment.
The narcotics combined have an estimated street value of $6,973,400.
CBP officers seized the narcotics. The cases were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.
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