U.S. Customs and Border Protection said officers made two separate seizures over the weekend at the Eagle Pass and Laredo crossings, totaling nearly 74 pounds of suspected cocaine
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said officers at Laredo Field Office ports of entry seized cocaine valued at more than $984,000 in two separate enforcement actions over the weekend.
According to CBP, the first seizure happened on Friday, June 12, at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge in Laredo, when an officer referred a 56-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a 2020 Nissan Frontier pickup for secondary inspection. The agency said that after a canine and imaging-system examination, officers found 20 packages containing 50.75 pounds of suspected cocaine hidden in the vehicle, with a street value of $677,617.
The second seizure occurred the next day, Saturday, June 13, at the Camino Real Bridge in Eagle Pass, CBP said, when an officer referred a 53-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a 2015 Toyota Camry for secondary inspection. According to the agency, an imaging-system examination led officers to 13 packages containing 22.97 pounds of suspected cocaine, valued at $306,723.
CBP said it seized the narcotics and both vehicles in the two actions. The agency said Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested the drivers and are investigating both seizures.
“These back-to-back cocaine seizures at different ports of entry within the Laredo Field Office area of responsibility underscore not only the reality of the drug threat we face daily, but our officers’ keen ability to apply inspection experience and technology to take down these drug loads,” said Donald R. Kusser, Director of Field Operations for the Laredo Field Office. Kusser said the drugs would not reach American streets thanks to the vigilance of frontline officers.
CBP said its officers along the southwest border work to stop illegal activity while facilitating lawful entry for millions of legitimate travelers.
