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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations officers at the Roma Port of Entry in Texas hit the mother lode recently. On March 5, they seized more than $20 million in liquid meth being smuggled within a tractor trailer hauling bottled mineral water.
The massive drug bust occurred when CBP officers assigned to the Roma International Bridge cargo facility located on the western edge of the Rio Grande Valley were inspecting a tractor trailer attempting to make entry into the United States from Mexico. Upon secondary inspection using non-intrusive inspection equipment and a screening by a CBP canine team, the officers physically inspected the vehicle and discovered 1,632 bottles containing 2,268.51 pounds of alleged liquid methamphetamine.
“This huge methamphetamine seizure illustrates the phenomenal work our CBP officers do every day to keep our borders secure,” said Port Director Andres Guerra, Roma Port of Entry. “Our officers utilized their inspection skills, canines and technology to zero-in on and take down this significant methamphetamine load.”
The alleged liquid methamphetamine, had it hit the streets of America, was estimated to have a value of $20,279,137.
Customs and Border Protection officers confiscated the meth and tractor trailer and handed the case off to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, who initiated a criminal investigation into the seizure.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
South Texas is a hotbed of drug smuggling activity. On the same day that CBP officers seized the over $20 million worth of liquid meth, CBP agents assigned to the the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility seized more than $6.2 million worth of cocaine that was discovered hidden in a shipment of plastic wrap.
In February, CBP agents seized around $22.5 million worth of cocaine at four different locations in Texas. Those seizures amounted to approximately 907 pounds of cocaine being confiscated.
Also in February, CBP officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry in Texas seized more than $1.2 million worth of narcotics in a single law enforcement action at the Camino Real International Bridge. That same location was also the site of another seizure of more than $1.4 million worth of cocaine. Seizures of more than $1 million worth of narcotics also occurred in February at the Anzalduas International Bridge and at the Pharr International Bridge in Texas.