The Colombia-Solidarity Bridge became the backdrop for a major drug seizure earlier this week, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection announcing the interception of more than $4.8 million worth of cocaine. CBP officials reported that the drugs were discovered after a secondary inspection of an empty 2013 Fontaine trailer.
According to the press release by the CBP, a team at Laredo Port of Entry utilized a combination of canine units and nonintrusive inspection systems to reveal some 149 packages hidden within the structure of the trailer, containing approximately 363 pounds of what they allege to be cocaine. The narcotics haul has an estimated street value of precisely $4,851,052.
Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry Port Director, underscored the significance of the operation, saying, "This cocaine seizure at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge highlights CBP’s commitment and the vital role of advanced technology in our daily operations." He was keen to stress the importance of the nonintrusive inspection systems and intelligence-driven targeting that led to the discovery. "Our Laredo team continues to disrupt the flow of dangerous narcotics, in turn protecting our communities," Flores said in a statement obtained by the CPB’s newsroom.
Following the seizure, the narcotics were confiscated, and the case has now been turned over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents who are taking the investigative lead.
