While Laredo was steeped in patriotic festivities during Washington's birthday weekend, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was busy intercepting a major drug haul at the Laredo Port of Entry. Over $872,000 worth of cocaine was seized by officers in an enforcement operation that showcased the ongoing vigilance of border security personnel.
"Our frontline CBP officers continue to maintain razor-sharp focus and that attention to detail combined with the effective utilization of technology resulted in a significant cocaine seizure," Port Director Albert Flores said. This assertion was brought to light in a statement released by the CBP. The smuggling attempt was thwarted last Sunday at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, where a 43-year-old U.S. citizen female driving a 2001 Ford Explorer was asked to pull over for a secondary inspection.
During the more in-depth check, which included both a nonintrusive inspection system and CBP canine units, officers discovered 25 packages that contained approximately 65 pounds of alleged cocaine. The street value of the narcotics is estimated to be around $872,777. These statistics were reported by the CBP Office of Field Operations following the find.
The narcotics and vehicle were promptly seized by the CBP. A criminal investigation has been kicked off by Homeland Security Investigations special agents, who arrested both the driver and her passenger, a 54-year-old Mexican citizen male. The duo is now facing serious charges, though specific details regarding their detention were not immediately disclosed.
