U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry intercepted a shipment of cocaine worth over $1.7 million concealed in a commercial truck at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge on February 26.
According to CBP, the incident took place when officers directed a truck with an empty trailer for additional inspection. The inspection, which included both canine units and nonintrusive technology, led to the discovery of 54 packages containing about 129.63 pounds of suspected cocaine. Authorities estimate the street value of the narcotics at $1,730,836.
Port Director Alberto Flores commented on the seizure: “This seizure reflects the tireless dedication of our frontline CBP officers to our border security mission and their effective use of technology,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “This is a significant amount of cocaine that will not reach our streets nor poison our communities.”
The narcotics were seized by CBP, and Homeland Security Investigations special agents are continuing with an investigation into the case.
CBP describes itself as America's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. With more than 67,000 employees, CBP's mission includes protecting U.S. borders on land, air, and sea while facilitating lawful travel and trade.
