LAREDO, Texas – More than $3 million worth of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine was seized in three stops by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Laredo Port of Entry, officials said Friday.
All three stops took place Wednesday.
In the first instance, a Border Protection officer randomly picked a 2011 Freightliner tractor for a secondary inspection, according to a news release from U.S. Customs.
Officers conducted imaging and canine inspection and said they found 12 packages containing 27 pounds of heroin at the World Trade International Bridge. A Mexican citizen from Dayton, Texas was driving the truck. His name wasn’t released, but officials said he is 37 years old.
In the second case, at the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge, a Border Protection officer referred a Ford F-150 truck for a secondary examination.
The truck, driven by a 20-year-old U.S. citizen from Laredo, Texas, had the same type of inspection done -- nonintrusive imaging and with help from dogs. Authorities discovered five packages containing 29.05 pounds of black tar heroin, 30 packages of 19.58 pounds of crystal meth and six packages containing 4.54 pounds of brown heroin, all hidden within the truck, the news release said.
The last seizure was at the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge when an officer wanted to take a closer look at a Chrysler 200.
Upon inspection, 28 packages were found containing a total of 51 pounds of cocaine and 19 pounds of heroin, officials said.
Combined, the drugs carry a combined street value of $3,089,607.