CBP Officers at Laredo Port of Entry Seize $186,000 in Marijuana from SENTRI Lane Driver
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Jun 24, 2012, 0 Comments
Courtesy Richard Pauza,
LAREDO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry on Wednesday seized alleged marijuana valued at $186,000 from a driver using the SENTRI trusted traveler lane. The seizure occurred on June 20, 2012 during an examination at Lincoln-Juarez Bridge . A CBP officer referred a 1992 Ford Ranger XLT pickup driven by a 27-year-old Mexican citizen from Nuevo Laredo , Tamaulipas , Mexico that had entered through the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) trusted traveler lane for a secondary examination. CBP officers conducted an intensive examination and discovered 36 packages containing 186 pounds of alleged marijuana hidden within the vehicle. The marijuana has an estimated street value of $186,000.
CBP officers turned the driver over to Homeland Security Investigations and Laredo Police Department for further investigation.
“CBP does conduct periodic examinations of travelers utilizing the SENTRI lane in an effort to keep people honest and preserve the integrity of the trusted traveler program,” said Sidney Aki, CBP Port Director, Laredo . “We trust, but we also verify. In this case that verification resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of narcotics.”
