U.S. officials say they recovered 29 pounds of heroin at border
U.S. border agents say they recently uncovered more than a half-million dollars in heroin near Laredo at America's southern border.
On Tuesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said CBP officers on Sunday at Juarez-Lincoln Bridge seized more than $557,000 worth in heroin concealed inside a vehicle at the Laredo Port of Entry in Texas. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI UPI
Sept. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. border agents say they recently uncovered more than a half-million dollars in heroin near Laredo at America's southern border.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said Tuesday that CBP officers on Sunday at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge seized more than $557,000 worth in heroin concealed inside a vehicle at the Laredo Port of Entry in Texas.
"Our frontline CBP officers continue to apply their inspection skills together with the latest technology, and that combination yielded this significant hard narcotics interception," said Port Director Alberto Flores.
A 63-year-old unidentified male Mexican citizen driving a 2008 Chrysler Voyager was referred for a second look by border officials. It was then that a canine unit uncovered 12 packages of the illicit drug, which had a total weight just a little more than 29 pounds.
Experts say the find had an estimated street value of about $557,200.
Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations arrested the unnamed driver, and CBP officers in Laredo then took the narcotics for testing and impounded the vehicle.
Meanwhile, a criminal investigation is underway.
"Seizures like these exemplify our steadfast commitment to CBP's border security mission," Flores of the Laredo Port added Tuesday in a statement.
