LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized hard narcotics valued at more than $2.7 million during five recent bridge-crossing incidents in Laredo, Texas.
The first incident occurred May 30 at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, where investigators discovered 15 packages containing more than 37 pounds of suspected cocaine in a vehicle driven by a 26-year-old female U.S. citizen making entry from Mexico. Those narcotics had an estimated street value of slightly more than $286,000.
The second interception occurred Wednesday at the World Trade Bridge, where investigators discovered nearly 102 pounds of suspected cocaine and nearly 10 pounds of suspected fentanyl inside a 2005 Freightliner manifested for charcoal. The truck was driven by a 36-year-old male Mexican citizen making entry from Mexico, and the narcotics had a combined estimated street value of more than $915,000
The third seizure occurred Wednesday at the Colombia Solidarity Bridge, where investigators discovered nearly 286 pounds of suspected marijuana concealed within a 2009 Nissan truck manifested for tables arriving from Mexico. The drugs had an estimated street value of more than $57,000.
The fourth interception came Thursday at the World Trade Bridge, where investigators in the cargo facility discovered two packages containing nearly five pounds of suspected methamphetamine with a street value of more than $95,000. The drugs had been concealed inside a 2020 Freightliner hauling a shipment of brake parts arriving from Mexico, the agency stated in a news release.
The fifth seizure occurred Thursday at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, where investigators discovered nearly 67 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, valued at more than $1.3 million, concealed within personal goods inside a 2007 Ford F-150.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized four of the five vehicles and all of the narcotics, valued at nearly $2,653,000 combined. All five cases have been turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations.
