$1.4M In Fentanyl, Methamphetamine Seized At Southern Border
LAREDO, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers seized hard narcotics in four separate, unrelated incidents that totaled more than $1,400,000 in street value.
"In an effort to secure our Nation's borders, as these narcotics seizures clearly illustrate, CBP has implemented enforcement strategies that have furthered the disruption of dangerous drugs entering the country," said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry.
The first seizure happened on June 28 at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, after a CBP officer referred a 2007 Cadillac Escalade arriving from Mexico for a secondary inspection. Following a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, CBP officers discovered packages containing 7.80 pounds of cocaine and packages containing 2.51 pounds of alleged methamphetamine within the drivers' personal belongings. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $110,444.
The second enforcement action happened later that same day, at the World Trade Bridge, after CBP officers assigned to the cargo facility encountered a daily express consignment truck arriving from Mexico. The 2020 Freightliner and shipment were referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, resulting in the discovery of 11.11 pounds of methamphetamine within the shipment. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $222,223.
The third enforcement action happened in the same place later that evening, after CBP officers encountered a tractor manifesting a shipment of plastic scrap arriving from Mexico. The 2020 International tractor and shipment were referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, resulting in the discovery of packages containing 19.75 pounds of methamphetamine, 32.67 pounds of alleged cocaine and 22.88 pounds of fentanyl within the shipment. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $958,404.
The fourth enforcement action happened the next day, on June 29 at the World Trade Bridge after CBP officers encountered a daily express consignment truck arriving from Mexico. The 2011 Freightliner and shipment were referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, resulting in the discovery of 7.05 pounds of methamphetamine within the shipment. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $141,094.
The four interceptions have a combined street value of $1,432,165.
CBP seized the narcotics. The cases were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation.