More than $60 million worth of methamphetamine was seized at the US-Mexico border in Laredo last week.
The seizures occurred on October 27th and October 28th near the Laredo Port of Entry in Laredo, Texas.
According to Fox 29 News, during the first discovery, agents working at the cargo facility at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge became suspicious of an empty 2006 Freightliner tractor trailer crossing over from Mexico. The agents then conducted an inspection of the truck using a “non-intrusive imaging system” and canines, which led to the discovery of 618 packages containing 1988.12 pounds of alleged methamphetamine hidden in the otherwise empty trailer. The hidden narcotics have an estimated street value of $39,762,165.
The second discovery occurred at the World Trade Bridge at the same cargo facility. During that incident, agents sent a 1999 Freightliner semi truck hauling frozen vegetables from Mexico in for further inspection.
During the inspection, agents used the same non-intrusive imagining system to inspect the rig, but it was the canines that alerted agents to the presence of illegal drugs, allowing the agents to unearth 52 packages containing 1049.84 pounds of alleged methamphetamine hidden amongst the frozen vegetables.
The narcotics seized in the two smuggling attempts have an estimated combined street value of $60,758,775.
Both cases have been turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation.