October 21, 2008
Laredo, Texas - Border Patrol agents assigned to the Hebbronville station stopped an attempt to smuggle more the 46 pounds of cocaine today.
Agents manning the checkpoint located on Highway 16 south of Hebbronville conducted an immigration inspection of the lone occupant of a 1997 Chevrolet pickup truck. A service canine alerted agents toward the bottom of the truck, indicating the presence of hidden people or contraband.
Agents examined the truck and found a false compartment built into the gas tank. The compartment held 20 cellophane-wrapped bundles. The bundles contained cocaine with a total weight of 46.8 pounds and an estimated street value of $1.5 million.
The driver, the vehicle and the cocaine were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws
