McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers this week seized over 6 tons of methamphetamine from a truck trying to cross into Eagle Pass, Texas, from Mexico — the single-most haul of the drug ever at a U.S. port of entry, the agency announced.
The drugs, valued at $117 million, were confiscated on Sunday at the Camino Real International Bridge, which is also known locally as Bridge II.
CBP says the drugs were found in a tractor-trailer that had listed its load on the customs manifest as a shipment of drying agent for piglets. A canine unit alerted officers, and a non-intrusive inspection system examination was done on the truck, which was then sent to secondary inspection where they discovered over 13,000 pounds of meth, the agency said.
“This gargantuan methamphetamine seizure, the largest ever taken down by CBP officers at a port of entry, uniquely illustrates the serious narcotics threat our officers face on a daily basis and their effectiveness at utilizing our technological enforcement tools, expertise and experience to zero-in on these threats,” Donald Kusser, Laredo CBP director of field operations said in a statement. “This seizure exemplifies our officers’ steadfast commitment to advancing CBP’s priority border security mission while facilitating lawful trade and travel.”
Bridge II is the only international bridge where cargo trucks can cross from Piedras Negras to Eagle Pass.
“For far too long, drug trafficking organizations have been raking in billions of dollars at the expense of our communities that are left ravaged by addiction, death and despair as a result of these poisonous substances,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson, of Houston. “Thanks to the outstanding teamwork between HSI Houston, HSI Eagle Pass, HSI Mexico City and our partners at CBP, we have prevented a record-breaking amount of these narcotics from making it to Houston where they would have destroyed an untold number of lives.”
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
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