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CBP seizes $14 million worth of meth and heroin at Mexico border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers recently seized $14 million worth of drugs in several border incidents. (Photo: CBP)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized more than $14.7 million worth of drugs in several U.S.-Mexico border incidents.

The first occurred Sept. 11 at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas. CBP officers searching an empty trailer arriving from Mexico discovered 93 pounds of alleged methamphetamine. The meth has an estimated street value of $1.86 million, the CBP said.

The second incident occurred Sept. 12 in Pharr, Texas. Officers at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge searched a commercial load of avocados from Mexico and reportedly found 48 packages of methamphetamine totaling 326 pounds and one package of heroin weighing 2.4 pounds. The drugs have an estimated street value of $6.6 million, the CBP said.

CBP seized the narcotics, the tractor-trailer and arrested the truck driver.


On Sept. 14, officers at the Tecate port of entry in Southern California found 560 pounds of alleged methamphetamine and cocaine cemented inside several quartz boulders in a truck from Mexico. The shipment was listed as beach pebbles and stones. The narcotics have a street value of $3.9 million, the CBP said. 

CBP found $4M worth of meth, cocaine in boulders at the Tecate border crossing. (Photo: CBP)

Officers at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge on Monday also found 86 pounds of alleged methamphetamine and 16 pounds of alleged heroin in a shipment of fresh produce from Mexico officers. The drugs are valued at $2.36 million, the CBP said. 

CBP turned the cases over to the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

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Noi Mahoney

Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English in 1998. Mahoney has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working for newspapers in Maryland and Texas. Contact nmahoney@freightwaves.com