Agents Seize Significant Loads of Cocaine and Marijuana

Laredo, Texas Border Patrol agents from the Laredo Sector made two significant drug seizures in the past 24 hours. The first case occurred on Tuesday night when agents from the Laredo North station working at the Interstate Highway 35 checkpoint north of Laredo intercepted a shipment of cocaine worth approximately $7.7 million. The case unfolded when agents conducted an immigration inspection on the driver of a tractor trailer. During the inspection, a Border Patrol canine alerted toward the trailer, indicating the presence of hidden contraband or people. The vehicle was referred for secondary inspection and examined by the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System which uses gamma rays to produce an image similar to an x-ray. The machine detected an anomaly in cargo being hauled in the trailer. Agents searched the trailer and found several duffel bags that contained a total of 70 cellophane-wrapped bundles. The bundles contained 240.2 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of $7.7 million. The drugs, the driver and the vehicle were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The second case occurred this morning when agents from the Laredo West station stopped a shipment of marijuana from passing the checkpoint on U.S. Highway 83 west of Laredo. When the agents conducted an immigration inspection on the driver of a tractor trailer, a Border Patrol canine alerted toward the trailer. Agents searched the trailer and found several duffel bags that contained dozens of cellophane-wrapped bundles. The bundles contained 1,587.2 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of $639,600. The drugs, the driver and the vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. To report suspicious activity such as drug and/or alien smuggling, contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free telephone number at 1-800-343-1994.