CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry seize more than $770k in hard narcotics, controlled prescription medication

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at multiple crossings within Laredo Port of Entry seized more than $770,000 of hard narcotics and controlled prescription medication in two separate, unrelated enforcement actions.

“These significant interceptions of hard narcotics and commonly abused controlled opioid medication underscore the grim reality of the drug threat our officers face every day and their resolute intent to uphold CBP’s border security mission,” Albert Flores, port director for the Laredo Port of Entry, said.

On Jan. 20, CBP officers at Juarez-Lincoln Bridge referred a vehicle driven by a 33-year-old male Mexican citizen from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas for a secondary examination.

With a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system and the help of a canine team, officers discovered seven packages containing 18.52 pounds of alleged heroin and four packages containing 47,063 pills of alleged Oxycodone hidden inside the vehicle. The alleged heroin has an estimated street value of $420,000 and the alleged Oxycodone, depending on dosage unit strength, may have an estimated street value of $1.8 million or more.

On Jan. 21, officers at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge cargo facility referred a Freightliner tractor driven by a 38-year-old male Mexican citizen from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon for a secondary inspection.

Through the use of a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system and the help of a canine team, CBP officers located eight packages containing a total of 25 pounds of alleged methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $350,002 hidden in the tractor.

CBP OFO seized the narcotics and arrested both drivers. Homeland Security Investigations special agents are currently investigating both cases.