Laredo CBP Officers Seize $12.7 Million in Heroin

Largest Heroin Seizure in the Port’s History
Laredo, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry this weekend seized $12.7 million in heroin, the largest heroin seizure in the history of the port.

	CBP officers discovered 100 packages containing a total of 127 pounds of brown heroin hidden within the roof of a bus. The heroin has an estimated street value of $12.7 million.

The seizure occurred on Oct. 24, at Lincoln-Juarez Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2001 Scania Irizar bus driven by a 41-year-old U.S. citizen from Arlington, Texas for a secondary examination. CBP officers conducted an intensive examination and discovered 100 packages containing a total of 127 pounds of brown heroin hidden within the bus roof. The heroin has an estimated street value of $12.7 million.

The driver was turned over by CBP officers to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) agents for further investigation.

“As CBP’s largest seizure ever made at the Laredo Port of Entry and the largest heroin seizure by CBP officers along the Southwest Border in the last five years, this is a stunning accomplishment and illustrates the substantial drug threat our frontline officers face at ports of entry throughout the nation,” said Alan Bersin, Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.