Customs and Border Protection officers seized enough cocaine to kill more than 137,000 people at the Texas-Mexico border earlier this week.
CBP officers at the Laredo Port of Entry intercepted 363 pounds of cocaine on June 3, according to a press release. This has a “street value” of $4.85 million and is potentially enough to kill more than 137,200 people.
“This cocaine seizure at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge highlights CBP’s commitment and the vital role of advanced technology in our daily operations,” said Laredo Port Director Alberto Flores in the release.
When an empty trailer approached the border crossing, a CBP officer referred it to “secondary inspection,” according to the release. The trailer was made by Fontaine, which manufactures flatbeds. Officers conducted a “canine and nonintrusive inspection system examination” and discovered 149 packages of cocaine “within the trailer.”
“By utilizing nonintrusive inspection systems and intelligence-driven targeting, our Laredo team continues to disrupt the flow of dangerous narcotics, in turn protecting our communities,” Flores said in the release.
CBP seized the drugs, according to the release. Agents with ICE-Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.
“There were no arrests at the time of seizure,” said Pauza, public affairs officer for CBP Laredo, in an email to The Dallas Express.
The Dallas Express asked why officers did not make any arrests, and Pauza said, “The case continues to remain under investigation.” He could not “elaborate any further beyond what is contained in the news release” and directed any further inquiries to ICE-HSI.
“ICE Homeland Security Investigations continues to work the investigation,” said Nina Pruneda, public affairs specialist for ICE-HSI San Antonio, in an email to The Dallas Express.
Officers with CBP Laredo seized more than 1,443 pounds of narcotics and made 67 arrests from May 25 to 31, Director of Field Operations Donald Kusser posted to X.
Officers seized enough cocaine to kill 17,000 people near El Paso on May 27, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. That week, officers also stopped an additional two shipments of cocaine, totaling 43 pounds – enough to kill 16,200 people.