CBP Officers at Laredo Port of Entry Seize Nearly $1.7 Million in Heroin and Cocaine in 48 Hours
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Nov 16, 2011, 0 Comments
Courtesy Richard Pauza,
LAREDO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry over a recent 48-hour period this Veterans’ Day weekend seized alleged heroin and cocaine valued at nearly $1.7 million in two separate, unrelated enforcement actions.
The more recent of the two seizures occurred on Nov. 14, 2011 during a routine examination at Lincoln-Juarez Bridge . A CBP officer referred a 2007 Mazda CX-7 driven by a 35-year-old U.S. citizen from Round Rock, Texas for a secondary examination. During the examination, CBP officers noted discrepancies in the front part of the vehicle. An intensive examination yielded 25 packages containing a total of 47 pounds of alleged cocaine hidden within the vehicle. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $1.5 million.
The heroin seizure occurred on Nov. 12, 2011 at the same bridge. A CBP officer examining arriving northbound bus passengers referred a 43-year-old male Guatemalan citizen from Ipala, Chiquimula , Guatemala for a secondary examination. During the examination, CBP officers noted discrepancies in two pairs of shoes. Closer examination of the shoes revealed 12 packets containing a total of 1.76 pounds of alleged heroin hidden within the soles of the shoes. The heroin has an estimated street value of $176,000. CBP officers turned both individuals over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.
“These back-to-back seizures of hard narcotics in a 48-hour period illustrate not only the gravity of the drug threat our frontline CBP officers face on a daily basis but their commitment to CBP’s border security mission,” said Sidney Aki, CBP Port Director, Laredo. “Seizures like these help to prevent narcotics from plaguing our communities and keep our streets safer.”
