Amid balmy weather and the start of the summer travel season, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers seized more than three and a half tons of marijuana in a single enforcement action at World Trade Bridge.
“This is quite a large seizure of marijuana and our Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations Todd Owen was visiting Laredo this week and got the chance to personally congratulate our frontline officers for their diligent work in securing the border in the cargo environment,” said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “The seizure reinforces the seriousness of the drug threat our officers face every day and our ongoing commitment to border security.”
The seizure occurred on Tuesday, May 28 at the World Trade Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2019 Freightliner tractor hauling a commercial shipment of synthetic rubber for a secondary examination. Following a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, CBP officers discovered 768 packages containing a total of 7,272 pounds of alleged marijuana hidden within the conveyance. The narcotics have an estimated street value of $1.4 million.
CBP officers seized the narcotics and the case was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.
