Laredo Border Patrol Agents Seize More Than 2.5 Tons of Marijuana Laredo, Texas March 26, 2008 – Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo West station seized more than 2.5 tons of marijuana Tuesday.

Agents at the Border Patrol checkpoint on U.S. Highway 83 conducted an immigration inspection on the driver of a tractor trailer that drove up to the facility Tuesday night.

During the inspection a Border Patrol canine alerted agents toward the trailer, indicating the presence of hidden contraband or people. Agents examined the contents of the trailer using a gamma ray imaging device known as the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS). The image showed anomalies that were inconsistent with the listed cargo.

    
Border Patrol agents find more than 5,200 pounds of marijuana valued at $4.2 million in a tractor trailer.
    

The agents opened the trailer and visually inspected the cargo. The load consisted of large cardboard boxes arranged on top wooden pallets and bound together with shrink wrap plastic. Inside the boxes agents found 245 cellophane wrapped bundles. The bundles contained marijuana with a total weight of 5,284.6 pounds and an approximate street value of $4,227,680.

The driver, truck and drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

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