Border Agents Seize Over $6.5 Million Worth Of Narcotics Hidden In Shipment Of Flowers

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Smugglers trying to sneak illegal drugs into the United States have shown that they will try just about anything to get their narcotics into the country.

One of the latest examples of this came last week when a 2023 Freightliner hauling a utility refrigerated trailer manifesting a commercial shipment of flowers tried to cross over the the World Trade Bridge and gain entry into Laredo, Texas from Mexico.

After being pulled over for a secondary inspection, canine and non-intrusive inspection system examinations revealed that the refrigerated trailer had more than just flowers inside. It also contained narcotics – 712.54 pounds of alleged methamphetamine with a street value of $6,551,910, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) press release.

“CBP prioritizes its border security mission on a daily basis,” said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “CBP officers work diligently using all tools available to combat these narcotic trends.”

So we can now add flowers to the long list of items in which smugglers have tried, and failed, to conceal their narcotics and other drugs in an attempt to sneak by border agents.

Other recent items in which they have tried to hide their drugs include shipments of lettuce, cucumbers and bell peppers, squash, and tomatillos.

Smugglers aren’t only being caught on the southern border of the United States, they are also getting busted trying to haul their drugs through the Canadian border.

Earlier this month, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered and seized 100 bricks of cocaine concealed behind a false wall within a tractor trailer.

The 266 pounds of cocaine and the truck and trailer were seized while the driver, a Canadian citizen, will now face local prosecution in St. Clair County. The case remains under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.

“We will continue to use all tools at our disposal to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities,” said Port Director Jeffrey Wilson. “This seizure showcases the effectiveness of our layered approach to border enforcement, which is further enhanced by the assistance of our regional law enforcement partners.”