CBP Officers Seize $287K in Cocaine at the Laredo Port of Entry

LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized alleged cocaine valued at nearly $300,000 in an enforcement action at one of Laredo’s international bridges during the weekend.

“This was an excellent seizure by our CBP officers,” said (A) Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry.  “Locating these illicit narcotics is a challenge but our CBP officers rely on their extensive training and experience to zero-in on hidden contraband and prevent it from reaching our streets.”

The seizure occurred on Saturday, July 16 at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta driven by a 30-year-old male Mexican citizen from Nuevo Leon, traveling with a 35-year-old female Mexican citizen from Nuevo Leon for a secondary inspection. A canine alerted to the vehicle and a non-intrusive imaging system inspection by CBP officers assisted in the discovery of 16 packages allegedly containing 37 pounds of cocaine. The contraband has a street value of $287,980.

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