Border Patrol Agents Seize Significant Loads of Cocaine and Marijuana Cocaine Load Valued at $7.7 Million; Marijuana Weighing More than 1,500 Pounds

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Laredo, Texas – Border Patrol agents from the Laredo Sector made two significant drug seizures in the past 24 hours.

"These cases are the result of the agents’ deft application of resources, technology and experience to detect and stop illegal activity that threatens our nation," said Laredo Sector Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Carlos X. Carrillo.

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.