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  4. CBP Officers Seize Over $800K in Heroin at the Laredo Port of Entry

CBP Officers Seize Over $800K in Heroin at the Laredo Port of Entry

Release Date
Thu, 03/09/2017

LAREDO, Texas –U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized a significant amount of alleged heroin carrying a combined estimated street value of more than $800,000 in one enforcement action.

“This is an excellent seizure from our CBP officers who continue to uphold our border security mission and prevent hard narcotics from reaching our streets,” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez, Laredo Port of Entry.  “Our CBP officers remain vigilant and utilize every tool available to assist them in identifying concealment trends utilized by these drug trafficking organizations.”

Packages containing 35 pounds of heroin seized by CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry
Packages containing 35 pounds
of heroin seized by CBP officers
at Laredo Port of Entry

The seizure occurred on Tuesday, March 7, at the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2012 Nissan Juke driven by a 41-year-old male Mexican citizen of Jalisco, Mexico for a secondary inspection. A non-intrusive imaging system and canine inspection of the vehicle by CBP officers resulted in the discovery of 13 packages allegedly containing 35 pounds of heroin with an estimated street value of $801,000. 

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

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 the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021