U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized almost 800 pounds of methamphetamine in two incidents last week.
The first bust occurred Aug. 10 when officers at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas, were checking a tractor-trailer carrying a load of acrylic polymers from Mexico.
Officers found 10 packages containing 474 pounds of alleged methamphetamine inside the containers of polymers. The narcotics have an estimated street value of $9.5 million.
The second incident occurred Saturday at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Officers at the bridge’s cargo facility were checking a tractor-trailer carrying fresh mangoes from Mexico. Officers found 48 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing 320 pounds concealed in the truck. The narcotics were valued at $6.4 million.
“The hard narcotics threat at our ports of entry is quite evident and our frontline officers remain dedicated to uphold our border security mission,” said Carlos Rodriguez, director of the Hidalgo port of entry.
The cases remain under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.
More than $125 million in drugs has been seized from tractor-trailers attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas and California since July 15.
Click for more FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney.
More articles by Noi Mahoney
Mexico’s president wants to revoke operating concession for Port of Veracruz
USMCA pushes Asian company to expand in Mexico
Beer was Mexico’s top agri-food export during first half of 2020
