see also: in December 2008:   CBP Lists Top 10 Enforcement Events of 2008   CBP Seizes $200K in Undeclared Currency; Arrest 1 at Texas Port   Marfa Sector Agents Apprehend Murder Suspect   San Ysidro Port Modernization Deployment Temporarily Reduces Lanes   Border Patrol Agents Assist in Locating Distressed Individual   CBP Officers Stop Man at Michigan Border Crossing Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault   Holiday Surprise; CBP Unwraps 312 Pounds of Khat in December ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Laredo, Texas – Laredo, Texas Border Patrol agents seized more than 2, 572 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value street value of $2.1 million in separate incidents this week.

The largest of the seizures occurred yesterday at a local checkpoint. Agents were conducting an immigration inspection on the driver of a 1999 Freightliner tractor trailer when a Border Patrol canine alerted toward the trailer, indicating the possible presence of hidden people or contraband. The vehicle was referred for secondary inspection and examined by the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System, which uses gamma rays to produce an image similar to an X-ray. The machine image showed an anomaly at the rear portion of the trailer.

Agents opened the trailer and found 42 cellophane-wrapped bundles. The bundles contained marijuana with a total weight of 1,387.6 pounds and an estimated street value just over $1.1 million. The driver, the truck and the marijuana were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On Tuesday, Laredo North agents received information of suspicious activity near La Bota Ranch. Agents responded to the area and located several abandoned bundles of marijuana hidden in a pasture of high grass. A total of 169.4 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $135,520 was seized and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On Monday, Zapata station agents responded to a report of suspicious activity near Salado Creek. Agents responded to the area and encountered a GMC Suburban with two occupants inside. While performing an immigration inspection of the occupants, agents observed in plain view several bundles of marijuana inside the vehicle. The total weight of the marijuana seized was 494.5 pounds with an estimated value of $395,600. The subjects, marijuana and vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Other notable marijuana seizures were:

• 290.5 pounds seized Monday by agents assigned to the Hebbronville station. Agents attempted to stop a 2003 Dodge Ram near Oilton, Texas. The driver and passenger absconded and left the vehicle abandoned. A detector canine alerted to the bed of the pickup truck. Agents discovered 67 bundles of marijuana inside the false bed of the truck. The marijuana has an estimated street value of $232,440. The marijuana and vehicle were turned over to DEA agents.
• 218.8 pounds seized by agents assigned to the Laredo West station. They seized the drugs from a vehicle stop they made of two occupants driving a 1995 Chevrolet pick-up near the Colombia port of entry on Mines Road. The suspects attempted to escape but were apprehended by Laredo West agents a short distance from the initial stop. Inside the vehicle, agents located 10 bundles of marijuana. The marijuana, valued at $175,040, was turned over to DEA.
• 11.2 pounds seized by agents assigned to the Laredo North station. Agents discovered two unclaimed bags in the luggage compartment of a commercial bus containing cellophane-wrapped bundles of marijuana with an estimated street value of $8,960. The drugs were turned over to the DEA

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.