CBP officers seize more than $9.7 million in narcotics over three separate incidents

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge near Laredo, Texas recently seized more than $9.7 million of alleged cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine over three separate incidents.

On Thursday, Sept. 7, officers encountered a 2000 Ford Explorer SUV driven by a 27-year old female U.S. citizen from Pearland, Texas. After agents referred her vehicle for a secondary inspection with a narcotics-detecting canine unit, they uncovered approximately 124 pounds of alleged liquid methamphetamine valued at more than $2.4 million on the street.

A second discovery was made a day later when officers referred a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic coupe driven by a 28-year old male Mexican citizen for a standard secondary inspection. With the use of a narcotics-detecting canine team, the officers found a total of 10 packages containing 26 pounds of alleged cocaine, which carried an approximate value of $199,240 on the street.

Later that same day, officers referred a 1999 Ford pickup truck driven by a 30-year old male Mexican citizen for a non-intrusive secondary inspection. A narcotics-detecting canine unit then discovered 24 packages of alleged crystal methamphetamine, weighing approximately 127 pounds. In total, the packages carried an approximate street value of $7,056,042.

Each individual involved in trafficking was arrested by CBP and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for criminal processing. All vehicles and narcotics were seized by CBP.

“These three interceptions of hard narcotics are significant and I am extremely proud of our CBP officers for keeping these dangerous drugs away from our youth,” Port Director of the Laredo Port of Entry Gregory Alvarez said.