Human TraffickingOrganised Crime

CBP Officers Seize Cocaine Worth Nearly $200K at the Laredo Port of Entry

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at Laredo Port of Entry intercepted a substantial amount of hard narcotics worth nearly $200,000 while conducting enforcement operations.

“The smuggling of illicit narcotics is a serious international health and security threat,” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez, Laredo Port of Entry. “CBP will continue to intercept these dangerous drugs through our vigorous enforcement actions.”

The seizure occurred on Wednesday, Mar. 11 at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2003 Honda Accord driven by a 38-year-old male Mexican citizen arriving from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas for a secondary examination. Following a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, CBP officers discovered a total of 10 packages containing nearly 25 pounds of alleged cocaine within the vehicle.

The narcotics have an estimated street value of $192,440.

CBP officers seized the narcotics and vehicle. The driver was arrested and the case was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation