More Pot Taken off Streets By Customs and Border Protection

Eagle Pass, TX (Jul 2) – More than 2,000 pounds of marijuana was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers today concealed in ceramic bricks.

A Freight-liner tractor pulling a flatbed loaded with what appeared to be ceramic bricks, driven by a  42-year-old driver Mexican Citizen, was order to a secondary inspection station at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry after the drivers manifest was inspected. CBP officers and a canine unit “Tex”, began a cursory search of the cargo when Tex, alerted the officers to the presence of narcotics.

A non-intrusive imaging system was then used to examine the suspected cargo resulting in abnormalities within the bricks. CBP Officers then shattered open the ceramic bricks locating 2,100 packages containing 2,489 pounds of marijuana. The ceramic bricks containing the marijuana worth an estimated $2,489,000 on the streets, was seized. The case was then referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for further investigation.

“This significant bulk seizure of marijuana can be attributed to the vigilance, dedication and technological resources CBP officers utilize in clearing commercial shipments,” said Cynthia O. Rodriguez, port director, Eagle Pass. “Their efforts in securing our borders also help keep these drugs off the streets.”

In another unrelated incident, more than $5 million dollars worth of marijuana was seized at the Laredo, Texas Port of Entry at the World Trade International Bridge.

An International tractor pulling a 2000 Stick chassis with a container driven by a 44-year-old Mexican citizen from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas was referred for secondary examination. An intense search of the contents of the container located 164 bundles of marijuana comingled amongst the cargo. The haul netted 5,283 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of over $5.2 million.

“Our officers are committed to the CBP mission of securing the nation’s borders while facilitating legitimate trade,” said Gene Garza, port director, Laredo, Texas. “Subsequently, their hard work and dedication results in the seizure of significant bulk loads of drugs such as this one.”

Posted by worldnews on July 2, 2010. Filed under Crime - Punishment,Criminal Justice,National News,WorldNewsVine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.