CBP Seizes $4.2 Million Worth of Cocaine at Laredo, Texas Border Crossing

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Packages containing 545 pounds of cocaine were seized by CBP officers at World Trade Bridge inside of a tractor-trailer.

In yet another notable cargo enforcement action, the fourth one thus far this week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at Laredo Port of Entry seized cocaine valued at $4.2 million within a tractor-trailer.

“Our frontline CBP officers have displayed an unparalleled commitment to CBP’s priority border security mission, seizing a fourth significant cocaine load in the cargo environment this week,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “These seizures illustrate the gravity of the narcotics threat we are facing and the effective application of CBP officer inspections experience, resources, and technology.”

This latest seizure occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2022, at the World Trade Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2020 Freightliner tractor hauling a shipment of plastic ethylene sheets for a secondary inspection. The tractor-trailer was referred for a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination, resulting in the discovery of 209 packages containing 545 pounds of alleged cocaine within the shipment. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $4.2 million.

CBP seized the narcotics. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents are investigating the seizure.

Source CBP