CBP Officers at Laredo Port of Entry Seize $246,000 in Methamphetamine, Uncover Seven Immigration Violations and Arrest Six Fugitives this Weekend
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Nov 8, 2010, 0 Comments
Courtesy Richard Pauza,
LAREDO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Laredo Port of Entry amassed a diverse array of enforcement actions this weekend, including a seizure of $246,000 in methamphetamine, seven alleged immigration law violations and six fugitive arrests among other activity. Over a 72-hour period ending on Nov. 7, CBP officers seized 16 pounds of methamphetamine, detected seven alleged violations of immigration law, arrested six fugitives and recovered a stolen vehicle and a stolen trailer. CBP agriculture specialists seized prohibited fruits ranging from apples, guava, sugarcane, to yams and issued a total of $4,075 in fines over the same period.
The methamphetamine seizure occurred on Nov. 5, 2010 during a routine examination at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge . A CBP officer referred a 2001 Ford Lightning pickup driven by a 40-year-old U.S. citizen from Baldwin Park , Calif. for a secondary examination. In secondary CBP officers conducted an intensive examination of the vehicle and discovered two packages allegedly containing a total of 16 pounds of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine has an estimated street value of $246,000. CBP officers turned the driver over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.
CBP officers uncovered one standout alleged immigration law violation on Nov. 5 at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge . CBP officers processing northbound bus passengers encountered a 43-year-old man who presented a Canadian citizenship certificate and an Ontario , Canada driver’s license and allegedly claimed to be a Canadian citizen. In secondary, CBP officers attempted to verify his identity and discovered that he was allegedly a Jamaican citizen from Montego Bay , Jamaica and had been deported from the U.S. in 2008.
“Our frontline CBP officers and agriculture specialists maintained their vigilance and uncovered a variety of violations of federal narcotics, immigration and agriculture law,” said Gene Garza, CBP Port Director, Laredo . “The diversity in enforcement actions reflects the important role CBP plays in border security by enforcing federal laws on behalf of approximately 60 federal agencies.”
