U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently seized more than $11 million worth of illegal drugs during two enforcement actions on the same day.
Both drug seizures occurred on September 20 at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas.
Great job on the double play of the week! @CBP @DFOLaredo Port of Laredo intercepts and seizes Cocaine and Heroin at the World Trade Bridge. The estimated street value of the narcotics is $11.4 million! Excellent work by the CBP officers involved in these narcotic seizures. pic.twitter.com/gMYS8Ss9xt
— Director, Field Operations, Randy Howe (@DFOLaredo) September 23, 2022
The first occurred when a CBP officer referred a 2007 Wabash National trailer hauling a shipment of brooms for a closer inspection. Using a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination, CBP found 32 packages containing 80.73 pounds of suspected cocaine concealed within the trailer. The estimated street value of seized cocaine is $1,077,946.
On the evening of September 20, a 2004 Transcraft trailer manifesting a shipment of sheetrock was referred for a secondary inspection using a canine and non-intrusive inspection system. Officers discovered 71 packages containing 31.39 pounds of alleged heroin and 2,551 packages containing 1047.19 pounds of alleged methamphetamine within the commodity. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is $10,412,400.
The total street value of the seized drugs from both incidents is $11,490,346.
CBP seized the drugs in both cases.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations will investigate both incidents.
“CBP continues to work with our law enforcement partners to foil illicit transnational criminal organization attempts to smuggle their product through our cargo facilities,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “These significant seizures are prime examples of how CBP’s border security management aids in the prevention of prohibited contraband from crossing the border.”