LAREDO, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers recently thwarted a substantial methamphetamine smuggling attempt at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas.
According to a news release, officers with the Office of Field Operations encountered a 2010 International ProStar tractor-trailer manifesting paint buckets on Nov. 1.
Investigators found 2,033 pounds of alleged methamphetamine concealed within the shipment, the agency stated, noting that the narcotics had a combined street value of nearly $18.7 million.
“Officers at the Laredo Port of Entry have heightened their enforcement strategy when targeting these high-risk commodities, successfully disrupting the flow of deadly narcotics from entering our country,” Laredo Port Director Albert Flores said in a prepared statement.
“This exceptional drug bust was an outstanding operation that highlights CBP’s commitment in combatting the crimes carried out by transnational criminal organizations,” he added.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized the narcotics and special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations are investigating.