CBP officers seize $3.2 million in cocaine at Laredo Port of Entry

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recovered 424 pounds of cocaine inside a tractor-trailer hauling paper towels across World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas, on Nov. 6.

The cocaine, which has an estimated street value of $3.2 million, was discovered after a CBP officer referred the tractor-trailer for an unobtrusive inspection and canine search.

“This seizure demonstrates a great example of teamwork from our CBP officers,” Albert Flores, a port director at the Laredo Port of Entry, said. “I commend our officers for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the CBP mission.”

Discoveries of narcotics shipments totaling millions of dollars were also reported earlier this year at the Laredo Port of Entry. CBP officers seized 62 pounds of heroin and 59 pounds of marijuana in separate law enforcement actions on May 3. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $2.5 million.

“This is truly an example of our CBP officers’ hard work, experience and dedication to the CBP mission,” Gregory Alvarez, a port director at the Laredo Port of Entry, said in May. “I congratulate our officers for their dedication which has prevented these dangerous narcotics from entering our country.”

All three narcotics cases have been referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigation (ICE-HSI).