see also: in September 2007 News Releases:   CBP Seizes $2.5 Million Worth of Marijuana Inside Cargo Load at Texas Entry   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Achieves Container Security Initiative Milestone with 58 Operational Ports   CBP Agriculture Team Intercepts Narcotic Plant at Newark Airport   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Collects More Than $2.2 Million in Underpaid Antidumping Duty on Chinese Shrimp   Kiosks for Frequent International Fliers Now Available At Edmonton Airport   Port of Alexandria, Egypt Participates in the CBP Container Security Initiative   Ports of Colon and Manzanillo, Panama Begin Container Security Initiative Operations ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Laredo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at the Laredo Port of Entry find five pounds of cocaine valued at $160,000 on the body of a pedestrian that nets one arrest.

On Thursday, September 6, 2007, at approximately 5:00 a.m., CBP officers at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge referred a pedestrian, Leonel Lopez Camacho, a 31-year-old Mexican citizen from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico for a secondary examination. During the examination, CBP officers detected discrepancies with the man’s travel itinerary and manner of clothing. Upon further examination, CBP officers discovered three packages containing five pounds of cocaine strapped to the man’s legs. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $160,000. The pedestrian, Lopez Camacho was arrested by CBP officers on federal drug violations and turned over to U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agents who investigated the seizure.

“Whether they try to bring it in vehicles or on their person – as creative as they can get, our officers can become just as creative in putting their skilled training to use in their enforcement efforts thus, the seizure of this contraband.” said Gene Garza, CBP 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 the 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.