CBP Officers Seize More Than $4.2 Million in Methamphetamines and Cocaine During the first three weeks of October
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Oct 23, 2013, Comments Off
Courtesy Richard Pauza,
Laredo, Texas –U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry have seized more than $4.2 million in narcotics during the first three of weeks of October. The $4.2 million accounts for four different enforcement actions that include a total of 111 pounds of methamphetamines and 22 pounds of cocaine. During this same time period, CBP officers were also busy intercepting smuggling attempts of currency, weapons, and ammunition, but the aforementioned cases are the most noteworthy in terms of poundage and value.
“The CBP officers in Laredo did an outstanding job in detecting and intercepting illegal drugs that would have made their way into the country and our community streets,” said Jose R. Uribe, CBP Acting Port Director, Laredo. “With Red Ribbon Week just a few days away from being commemorated, these seizures serve to draw attention to the work that CBP officers do every day in stopping illegal drugs from possibly reaching the hands of the youth of our community. It is also commendable to mention that CBP officers remained vigilant and poised as America’s Frontline protecting our borders throughout the period in the lapse in appropriations.”
The most recent seizure occurred last Thursday, October 16, 2013 when CBP officers at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge (Bridge One) encountered a 2001 Ford F-150 pickup truck being driven by a 31-year-old male Mexican citizen from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. CBP officers referred the truck and the driver for an intensive examination. The exam resulted in the discovery of 30 pounds of alleged methamphetamines concealed within the truck. The estimated value for the alleged methamphetamines is listed at $960,000.
The second and most noteworthy seizure, in terms of value, occurred on Tuesday, October 15 when a 2008 Dodge Avenger driven by a 42-year-old male Mexican citizen from Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico arrived at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge. CBP primary officers referred the Dodge vehicle and its driver to secondary for a closer inspection. The CBP officers that conducted the closer inspection discovered 36 packages containing a total of 42 pounds of alleged methamphetamines hidden within the car. The estimated street value for the alleged methamphetamines is listed at $1,344,000.00.
A third seizure was discovered on the same date of Tuesday, October 15 when CBP officers conducted an intensive inspection of a 2009 Dodge Charger being driven by a 23-year-old female Mexican citizen from San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico also at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge. CBP officers at primary had referred the Dodge and the driver for a secondary intensive exam. The secondary exam resulted in the discovery of 32 bundles weighing 39 pounds of alleged crystal methamphetamines within the vehicle. The estimated street value for the alleged methamphetamines is listed at $1,248,000.00.
The last seizure of the four most noteworthy ones occurred on Sunday, October 6 when CBP officers at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge encountered a 2003 Ford F-150 truck being driven by a 28-year-old female Mexican citizen from Edinburg, Texas. The woman and the truck were referred for a secondary inspection that resulted in CBP officers finding ten bundles of alleged cocaine weighing 22 pounds, hidden within the truck. The estimated street value of the alleged cocaine is listed at $704,000.00
CBP officers seized the narcotics and all of the vehicles involved in these unrelated enforcement actions. CBP officers arrested the two male drivers and the two female drivers and turned them over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents for further investigation.
