see also: in February 2008:   Marijuana Seized by CBP Officers at San Luis, Ariz. Port   Border Patrol in Tucson Seizes 4 Tons of Marijuana   CBP Officers in Philadelphia Discover Venomous 8-Legged Stowaway   Arizona Event to Assist Border Patrol Applicants   Departments of Justice and Homeland Security Announce International Initiative Against Traffickers in Counterfeit Network Hardware   Border Patrol Apprehends 62 Illegal Migrants Hiding in Arizona House   CBP Officers in Calif. Find Smuggled Women in Truck Engine Compartment ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Laredo, Texas –U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo port of entry discovered 21 pounds of cocaine valued at $672,000 on four body carriers and five pounds of crystal methamphetamine valued at $75,000 on another body carrier. The five seizures resulted in five arrests during a four-day period this week.

On Monday, Feb. 11, 2008, at approximately 3 a.m., CBP officers at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge referred a commercial passenger bus for secondary inspection. Elisa Lozano, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Santiago, Nuevo Leon, Mexico a passenger on the bus, traveling along with her two minor children, were referred for secondary inspection also. During the examination, CBP officers detected discrepancies with the manner of clothing that both of the minors and their mother were wearing. Upon further examination, CBP officers discovered three packages containing seven pounds of cocaine concealed around the woman, her 16-year old daughter, and her 17-year old son’s mid-sections. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $224,000. The adult woman was arrested by CBP officers on federal drug violations and turned over to U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents to be transported to the Webb County Jail where she remained incarcerated. The two minors were turned over to an older sibling with no further incident.

On that same bus another female passenger, Graciela Trevino-Morantes, a 48-year old Mexican citizen was also referred for secondary inspection. During that examination, CBP officers also detected discrepancies in her behavior. Upon further examination, CBP officers discovered she had concealed two packages containing five pounds of cocaine within the bathroom of the bus. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $160,000. She was arrested by CBP officers on federal drug violations and turned over to ICE special agents who investigated that seizure also.

A third person on that same bus was also referred for secondary examination. During that examination, CBP officers detected discrepancies with the manner of clothing that Blanca Esthela Garcia de Celaya, a 57-year-old Mexican citizen from Monterrey; Nuevo Leon, Mexico was wearing, too. Upon further examination, CBP officers discovered three packages containing seven pounds of cocaine strapped to the woman’s mid-section. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $224,000. The woman was arrested by CBP officers on federal drug violations and turned over to ICE special agents who investigated the seizure.

In an unrelated incident that occurred on Feb. 12, 2008 at approximately 1:30 a.m., Eduardo Alejandro Faz, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen arrived at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge on a commercial passenger bus. CBP officers referred the man for secondary examination. During the examination, officers detected discrepancies with the man’s manner of clothing that he was wearing. Further examination revealed several packages under an elastic garment underneath his clothing around his midsection and around both of his legs. CBP officers discovered a total of seven packages containing five pounds of crystal methamphetamine. The crystal methamphetamine has a street value of ICE special agents to be transported to the Webb County Jail for incarceration.

In a separate incident, that occurred on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008 at approximately 6 a.m. at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge, Manuel Zubia Lopez, a 40-year-old Mexican citizen from Phoenix, Ariz. arrived as a pedestrian and was referred for secondary examination. During that examination, CBP officers detected discrepancies in his behavior. As a result, CBP officers discovered that he was wearing a belt strap underneath his clothing and had a brick-like package concealed around the small of his back. The package contained two pounds of cocaine that has a street value of $64,000. The pedestrian was arrested by CBP officers and turned over to ICE special agents for transportation to the Webb Country Jail.

"Nearly two months into the year and already our officers are showing great promise, as illustrated by this most recent spate of significant seizure activity. Our officers had a pretty good week of enforcement actions. We are proud of their efforts," said Lupe Ramirez, CBP Acting Port Director, Laredo.

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.