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CBP Field Operations Intercepts Narcotics and Currency Totaling $1.1 Million in Value

Release Date
Tue, 05/05/2020

LAREDO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge intercepted cocaine and currency totaling $1.1 million in value during two separate, unrelated incidents over the weekend.

“CBP conducts enforcement operations to protect against the illegal importation of narcotics and unreported exportations of bulk currency,” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez, Laredo Port of Entry. “These interceptions exemplify CBP’s commitment to stop the illegal importation and exportation of contraband.”

Packages containing nearly 141 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Juarez-Lincoln Bridge.
Packages containing nearly 141 pounds of  cocaine
seized by CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry.

The first enforcement action occurred on Friday, May 1st, after CBP officers assigned to the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge intercepted a commercial bus arriving from Mexico. The 1994 Viaggio bus was referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection resulting in the discovery of 54 packages containing 140.92 pounds of alleged cocaine concealed within the conveyance.  The narcotics have an estimated street value of $1,086,640.

On Sunday, May 3rd, officers conducting outbound operations stopped a 2007 Ford E35 van for inspection. Upon physical inspection of the vehicle, packages containing $55,000 of undeclared currency were discovered. The vehicle and currency were seized by CBP.

The seized narcotics and currency have an estimated combined value of $1,141,640.

Both cases were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.

It is not a crime to carry more than $10,000, but it is a federal offense not to declare currency or monetary instruments totaling $10,000 or more to a CBP officer upon entry or exit from the U.S. or to conceal it with intent to evade reporting requirements. Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest. An individual may petition for the return of currency seized by CBP officers, but the petitioner must prove that the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate.

For more information about CBP, please click on the attached link.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021