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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas had themselves a happy holidays when they busted smugglers trying to sneak over $6.3 million worth of narcotics into the country. The massive busts by the Office of Field Operations agents took place over a span of two days between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
The first drug seizure occurred on Friday, Dec. 27 at the World Trade Bridge in Texas, when a CBP officer referred a 2022 Freightliner semi-truck hauling a commercial shipment of roof sealant buckets for a secondary inspection.
Using CBP canines and non-intrusive inspection systems for a deeper examination of the vehicle, CBP officers discovered a total of 29.80 pounds of alleged methamphetamine hidden within the semi-truck. The street value of the seized narcotics was approximately $266,452.
However, on Saturday, Dec. 28, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents hit the motherlode when a CBP officer referred a 2007 Freightliner hauling a commercial shipment of mechanical appliances for a secondary inspection.
After CBP canines and non-intrusive inspection systems were used, the agents were able to seize a total of 2,708.15 pounds of alleged marijuana that had been concealed within the trailer. Those narcotics had a street value of $6,058,468.
USA: CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas, seized significant amounts of narcotics. On December 28, a 2007 Freightliner with mechanical appliances, was intercepted carrying 2,708.15 pounds [1,228 kgs] of marijuana. pic.twitter.com/LVHK6FzZ3K
— Crime Intel (@WorldCrimeIntel) January 1, 2025
Combined, the two narcotics busts stopped approximately $6,324,920 worth of illegal drugs from making its way into America. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents are now investigating both drug seizures by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“CBP is proud of the work our frontline officers do to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our communities,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “These seizures exemplify the ongoing operational efforts at our cargo facilities to detect high-risk shipments.”
Those two drug seizures come less than two weeks after CBP agents in Laredo, Texas seized over 757 pounds of meth worth over $6.9 million. Those illegal narcotics were concealed inside a cargo truck hauling a shipment of water.