Hebbronville Border Patrol Agents Seize Nearly 3 Tons of Marijuana
Arizona Free Press
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Tractor-Trailer Load of Drugs is Worth $4.6 Million
Laredo, Texas Border Patrol agents from the Hebbronville station seized more than 5,700 pounds of marijuana from a tractor-trailer.
This case illustrates that the immigration checkpoints are an effective element of the defense-in-depth strategy we employ to secure our nations borders, said Laredo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Carlos X. Carrillo.
Agents discover 5,755 pounds of marijuana in a tractor trailer load.
Agents manning the checkpoint located on Highway 1017 conducted an immigration inspection of the driver of a 1999 Freightliner tractor that was pulling a soft-sided trailer. A service canine alerted agents toward the trailer, indicating the presence of hidden people or contraband.
Agents examined the trailer that was carrying a load of flattened cardboard containers. A close inspection of the 10 stacks of containers revealed that they had been modified to create large false compartments in the centers of the stacks. Inside the compartments agents found hundreds of cellophane-wrapped bundles. The bundles contained marijuana with a total weight of 5,755.2 pounds and an estimated street value of $4.6 million.
The driver, the vehicle and the marijuana were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The driver faces possible felony drug smuggling charges. In addition to federal charges, the driver also faces a lifetime revocation of his Commercial Drivers License under the Texas HoldËœEm initiative.
To report suspicious activity such as drug and/or alien smuggling, contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free telephone number at 1-800-343-1994
Agents discover 5,755 pounds of marijuana in a tractor trailer load.
Agents manning the checkpoint located on Highway 1017 conducted an immigration inspection of the driver of a 1999 Freightliner tractor that was pulling a soft-sided trailer. A service canine alerted agents toward the trailer, indicating the presence of hidden people or contraband.
Agents examined the trailer that was carrying a load of flattened cardboard containers. A close inspection of the 10 stacks of containers revealed that they had been modified to create large false compartments in the centers of the stacks. Inside the compartments agents found hundreds of cellophane-wrapped bundles. The bundles contained marijuana with a total weight of 5,755.2 pounds and an estimated street value of $4.6 million.
The driver, the vehicle and the marijuana were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The driver faces possible felony drug smuggling charges. In addition to federal charges, the driver also faces a lifetime revocation of his Commercial Drivers License under the Texas HoldËœEm initiative.
To report suspicious activity such as drug and/or alien smuggling, contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free telephone number at 1-800-343-1994