LAREDO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Laredo Port of Entry seized $5.5 million in narcotics over the 4th of July weekend.
"Our frontline officers remained focused on their inspections amid heavy traffic and that dedication combined with experience and technology resulted in several significant seizures of hard narcotics," said Joseph Misenhelter, CBP Port Director. "Seizures like these reinforce the border security aspect of our mission and underscore that the drug threat remains constant."
The largest seizure occurred on Friday when CBP officers working at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge stopped a 2005 Chevy Express van driven by a 55-year-old male Mexican citizen residing in Atlanta, Ga. for further examination.
During the examination, CBP officers discovered a combined weight of 126 pounds of methamphetamine within parts of the vehicle. The estimated street value for the narcotics is nearly $4 million.
Also on Friday, at the same bridge, CBP officers found eight pounds of methamphetamine hidden within the luggage of a 20-year-old man from Anaheim, California. The meth had an estimated street value of $265,000.
The third seizure occurred on Saturday as CBP officers discovered 19 bundles containing 39 pounds of cocaine hidden within a 2010 Honda Civic driven by a 56-year-old woman from Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
In all three seizures, CBP officers turned the subjects over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation.
CBP Field Operations at Laredo Port of Entry is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organization.