:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/II6RNUJYWVDABFAYGS7IJYSSWU.jpg)
LAREDO, Texas — Customs officials in Texas seized more than 900 pounds of methamphetamine at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge in Laredo, Texas, authorities said.
In a news release, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said the narcotics seized had an estimated street value of more than $8.3 million.
On Monday, a customs officer referred a 34-year-old male Mexican citizen, who was driving a 2005 International tractor that was hauling an empty trailer, to a secondary inspection, the release stated.
After an examination by K-9 and a “non-intrusive” inspection, CBP officers discovered 913.5 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in buckets.
“Methamphetamine is a controlling and highly addictive chemical substance that gravely affects its consumers,” Alberto Flores, the port director for Laredo, said in a statement. “Officers at the Laredo Port of Entry utilize their enforcement strategies to target high-risk commodities and intercept these deadly narcotics at the border.”
Customs agents seized the tractor and trailer. The driver of the vehicle and a passenger were arrested, CBP said in its news release. Homeland Security Investigations special agents are in charge of the case.
©2022 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/VMXHHITNMZDMXGAR32IC4WF2MI.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/INIPJDENXRDZJDZJH25FT7D76U.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/VEL35QBB4JA3TEY3SDLNACI7AI.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/QMYLKNLRGBCLLCGLKF4FDQOEXY.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/SWNKG6TR5ZDIFJHRE3MIO7Y6QE.jpeg)