K-9 hero sniffs out 1,533 pounds of cocaine at Texas-Mexico border

LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection have seized 1,533 pounds of cocaine valued at more than $11 million this week from three tractor trailers crossing over the Laredo Port of Entry.

“Our frontline CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry seized a total of three significant loads of cocaine in the cargo environment,” Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry director, said in a press release. 

On Aug. 30, border patrol agents, with the assistance of a canine, discovered 285 packages with nearly 718 pounds of cocaine inside a furniture shipment at the World Trade Bridge. Agents estimate the street value of the drugs to be worth more than $5.5 million

At the same location, a separate tractor trailer hauling a shipment of steel rolls contained 110 packages with 270 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $2.08 million.

On Aug. 31, a border patrol canine inspection of a tractor trailer hauling plastic ethylene sheets resulted in the discovery of 209 packages containing 545 pounds of cocaine, estimated to be worth $4.2 million.

“These seizures illustrate the gravity of the narcotics threat we are facing and the effective application of CBP officer inspections experience, resources and technology,” Flores said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents are investigating the seizures.