Officials with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Laredo Port of Entry said they have seized more than $2.8 million worth of narcotics in two separate and unrelated actions at the World Trade and Colombia-Solidarity Bridges.
“The effort to secure our nation’s borders from illicit drugs is clearly illustrated in these interceptions. CBP continues to implement a robust border security enforcement posture which helps curb the flow of narcotics,” said Acting Port Director Eugene E. Crawford, Laredo Port of Entry.
The seizures of marijuana and liquid methamphetamine happened one day apart.
On Tuesday, Dec. 8, CBP officers seized more than 7,700 pounds of marijuana at the World Trade Bridge cargo facility when a canine search of a tractor-trailer filled with rolls of carpet resulted in the discovery of nearly 1,200 packages of the drug. The estimated street value of the seizure was $1.4 million.
The next day, Dec. 9, CBP officers at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge stopped a privately owned van traveling from Guanajuato, Mexico, to Dallas, Texas. Drug-sniffing dogs inspected the vehicle and discovered 23 beer bottles totaling more than 73 pounds of alleged liquid methamphetamine inside baggage in the van. The estimated street value of the drugs is more than $1.4 million.
Combined, officials said, the narcotics have a street value of $2,876,915.
The cases have been turned over to special agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.