Border Officers Busy with Drug Interdiction

The flow of illegal drugs is, and always has been, a security threat to this country. On Monday, July 20, Customs and Border Protection officers were busy with drug busts and apprehending loads of illegal drugs.

While it is likely only a dent in the daily drug border trade, it is important to remember the service this agency is providing. Here are some of the interdictions made on Monday, from California to Texas.

Salton City, CA. CBP agents seized methamphetamine at the Highway 86 checkpoint. A search of the vehicle revealed two packages hidden under the vehicle’s front seats. The bundles were wrapped in camouflage duct tape in attempt to further conceal the packages from view. A woman driving a black 2013 Acura approached the checkpoint for inspection. A Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the vehicle. Agents sent the vehicle to secondary inspection for further investigation. The total weight of the methamphetamine was 11.11 pounds with an estimated street value of $24,991.

Otay Mesa, CA. At a commercial facility, CBP officers discovered 614 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of green onions. A 31-year-old Mexican citizen was driving a tractor trailer with a manifest of “mint leaves and other spices,” was stopped. The vehicle was processed through an X-ray imaging system where officers identified anomalies, and sent the shipment for a more intensive search. A CBP canine team screened the vehicle and alerted officers to the shipment. CBP found 614 pounds of methamphetamine hidden among the green onions. Officers found 40 wrapped packages of the drug. The estimated street value is $1.4 million. The tractor, trailer and narcotics were seized.

Laredo, TX. The CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge intercepted methamphetamine totaling more than $1.3 million in street value. “Drug smuggling organizations attempt to smuggle contraband into the U.S. daily,” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez, Laredo Port of Entry. “Though their methods range in complexity, our officers maintain their vigilance through vigorous enforcement operations.” Packages containing 69 pounds of methamphetamine seized by CBP officers at Laredo's Juarez-Lincoln Bridge. A 2007 Chevrolet Express van making entry from Mexico for secondary inspection. CBP officers examined the vehicle using a non-intrusive imaging system examination, resulting in the discovery of the narcotics.

Edinburg, TX. Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol agents foiled five separate drug smuggling attempts that led to the seizure of more than 1,300 pounds of marijuana. Brownsville agents observed a white Dodge pickup leaving the Rio Grande at a high rate of speed and drive into a nearby neighborhood. Agents located the truck abandoned along the side of the road with several bundles of marijuana inside. The drugs weighed more than 250 pounds and are valued at more than $206K.

El Refugio, TX. Agents observed several subjects load multiple bundles of drugs into a black Chevrolet Tahoe parked near the Rio Grande. As the agents approached the vehicle, the smugglers jumped into the river and swam to Mexico. Agents seized the vehicle along with 345 pounds of marijuana worth $276,000.

Garceno, TX. Agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a Ford-F250 suspected of transporting drugs. The driver refused to yield and led agents on a pursuit as they traveled back toward the Rio Grande. The pursuit came to an end after the driver intentionally drove into the river. Agents recovered over 640 pounds of marijuana worth more than $515,000.

Kingsville, TX. Agents working at the Javier Vega, Jr. checkpoint referred a white Ford F150 to the secondary inspection area after a Border Patrol K-9 alerted. The driver fled at a high rate of speed but agents found the vehicle parked on the side of the road still occupied by the driver and passenger. Agents arrested both subjects and seized more than 35 pounds of marijuana. The drugs are valued at more than $30,000.

La Joya, TX. Agents seized nearly 70 pounds of marijuana worth more than $55,000 after a drug smuggler led agents in a pursuit but was caught and arrested.

Fajardo, PR. CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents seized 43 pounds of cocaine and arrested a man attempting to elude detection near Playa Colorá. The narcotics have an estimated street value is $485,000. During patrol, an AMO Marine Unit encountered a vessel navigating at full speed west towards Fajardo. Law enforcement spotted the occupants throw a bag into the water, and change course. The AMO Unit pursued. The vessel made a hard landfall in Playa Colorá, Fajardo, where Marine Interdiction Agents (MIA) were able to arrest one of the occupants. The MIA’s recovered a duffle bag where they found 17 bricks that field tested positive to the properties of cocaine.

Featured

  • It's Show Time

    I am one of those people that likes to see things get bigger and better. As advertised, ISC West is going to be bigger (more exhibitors) and better (more attendees). It’s show time in Las Vegas. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • SIA Releases New Report on Operational Security Technology

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has released an impactful new resource – Operational Security Technology: Principles, Challenges and Achieving Mission-Critical Outcomes Leveraging OST. Read Now

  • Cyber Overconfidence Is Leaving Your Organization Vulnerable

    The increased sophistication of cyber threats pumped by the relentless use of AI and machine learning brings forth record-breaking statistics. Cyberattacks grew 44% YoY in 2024, with a weekly average of 1,673 cyberattacks per organization. While organizations up their security game to help thwart these attacks, a critical question remains: Can employees identify a threat when they come across one? A Confidence Gap survey reveals that 86% of employees feel confident in their ability to identify phishing attempts. But things are not as rosy as they appear; the more significant part of the report finds this confidence misplaced. Read Now

  • Mission 500 Debuts Refreshed Identity Ahead of Security 5K/2K at ISC West

    Mission 500, the security industry’s nonprofit charity dedicated to supporting children in need across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, has unveiled a refreshed brand identity ahead of ISC West. The charity’s new look includes a modernized logo with refined messaging to reinforce Mission 500’s nearly decade-long commitment to serving the needs of children and families in crisis. Read Now

    • Industry Events

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.