LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Richard Pauza,

 LAREDO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry this week seized 911 rounds of ammunition hidden in diaper boxes and a total of nearly 614 grams (one and a half pounds) of heroin in two separate, unrelated incidents.  The ammunition seizure occurred on Aug. 23, 2010 during an outbound (southbound) examination at Lincoln-Juarez Bridge . A CBP officer referred a taxicab carrying a 20-year-old male U.S. citizen passenger from Laredo for a secondary examination. During the examination, CBP officers discovered a total of 911 rounds of .223-caliber Monarch ammunition hidden within two diaper boxes in the vehicle.

 CBP officers turned the passenger over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation and seized the ammunition.

 In an unrelated enforcement action, CBP officers on Aug. 23 at Gateway to the Americas Bridge came in contact with two female pedestrians, one age 19 and the other age 21, both U.S. citizens from San Antonio and referred them to secondary examination. During the examination, CBP officers discovered packages of black tar heroin under their clothing. CBP officers found two packages containing 307 grams of heroin under the clothing of the 21-year-old and nearly 307 grams under the clothing of the 19-year-old. CBP officers seized a total of nearly 614 grams (one and a half pounds) of heroin. The heroin has an estimated street value of $150,000.

 CBP officers turned the women over to ICE-HSI special agents for further investigation and seized the narcotics.

 “Our frontline officers exhibited excellent inspection and questioning skills at primary and their vigilance and experience yielded significant seizures of outbound ammunition and heroin,” said Gene Garza, CBP Port Director, Laredo . “These enforcement actions exemplify CBP’s commitment to keeping our border communities safe and secure.”