In The News

CBP seizes $45 million in cocaine, other drugs hidden in produce

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers recently seized more than $45 million in illegal narcotics hidden among a commercial load of tomatoes making its way through the border crossing in Pharr, Texas.
 
According to a news release from the CBP, Office of Field Operations, on Nov. 2 officers at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility stopped a red 1995 Freightliner truck with a white 1994 Great Dane trailer.
 
The truck’s shipment manifest showed a commercial load of fresh tomatoes. A CBP officer referred the tractor trailer for a secondary inspection, where officers found 380 packages weighing 1,095 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated street value of $35,062,000. Officers also found 106 packages of heroin weighing 294 pounds worth an estimated $9,418,000 and 11 packages of methamphetamine weighing 28 pounds valued at $917,000, the release states.
 
“This was an outstanding seizure of hard narcotics that was accomplished this weekend by our frontline officers and one that most certainly ranks high as far as value in the black market,” Efrain Solis Jr., port director at Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas. “This interception will most definitely put a ding in the drug smuggling organization’s pocketbook.”
 
Customs and Border Protection seized all narcotics, the produce cargo and the truck and trailer.

Copyright © 2013 landlinemag.com. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from landlinemag.com