Shipment of baby wipes seized at the border turns out to be $11.8M worth of cocaine

Upon further inspection of a shipment of baby wipes, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents found that the goods were something much different: $11.8 million worth of cocaine. 

On Friday, CBP agents stopped a 2016 Stoughton trailer crossing the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge, which connects Texas to the Mexican state of Nuevo Laredo, that was supposed to be transporting a shipment of baby wipes, the agency said in a statement.

The truck was sent for a secondary inspection, as well as a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination. 

The additional inspections led agents to discover that the 1,935 packages of “baby wipes” contained 1,533 pounds of cocaine. The cocaine seized is estimated to have a street value of over $11.8 million, according to CBP agents. 

According to the Director of Field Operations for CBP Laredo, the cocaine bust is one of the largest the Laredo Port of Entry has seen in 20 years. 

Colossal, record setting seizure. Largest Cocaine bust in 20 years! The Laredo Port of Entry seizes over 1,500 pounds of cocaine from Transnational Criminal Organizations! Extremely proud of our @CBP employees for keeping our communities safe. pic.twitter.com/WKDAFD4zIm

— Director, Field Operations, Randy Howe (@DFOLaredo) August 29, 2022

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations special agents are investigating the bust. 

“Officers assigned to CBP cargo facilities ensure effective border security by preventing and countering the flow of suspected narcotics entering the country,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. 

“This seizure is a prime example of border security management and how it helps prevent dangerous narcotics from reaching our communities,” he added.