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  4. Laredo CBP Officers Seize More than $330,000 in Heroin at Gateway to the Americas Bridge

Laredo CBP Officers Seize More than $330,000 in Heroin at Gateway to the Americas Bridge

Release Date
Fri, 10/03/2014

Laredo, Texas –U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry intercepted eight pounds of alleged heroin in a single enforcement action this morning.

“CBP officers stand their watch with continued vigilance and dedication to securing our borders as evidenced by the detection of this hard narcotics seizure within the pedestrian walkway,” said CBP Acting Port DirectorJoseph Misenhelter, Laredo Port of Entry. “Continually would-be smugglers attempt to disguise their efforts with the use of varied methods but our CBP officers not only maintain a strong enforcement posture, they make use of all the resources they have at hand in detecting these efforts.”

Packages containing eight pounds of heroin seized by CBP officers at Lareod Port of Entry.

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

The seizure occurred today, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2014 at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge (Bridge One) when a 58-year-old U.S. citizen from Laredo, Texas attempted to enter the country from Mexico, as a pedestrian. The primary CBP officer referred the male for a secondary inspection that resulted in the discovery of four packages of alleged heroin found within baggage that the man was carrying. The alleged heroin weighed a total of eight pounds and has an estimated street value of $331,572.

CBP officers seized the alleged narcotics and turned the case over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation. 

CBP's Laredo Port of Entry is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.

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