see also: in October 2008:   Mexican Military Makes Accidental Incursion into the U.S.   CBP Officers Apprehend Illegal Alien Hidden on Rail Car   CBP Officers at the Calexico Downtown Port of Entry Intercept Cocaine Smuggling Attempt   CBP to Open Andrade Port of Entry Earlier During Agriculture Harvest Season   Layered Enforcement Snags U.S. Citizen, Foils 3 Smuggling Attempts   CBP Announces Online Method for Meeting SENTRI Vehicle Requirements ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Laredo, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents made several drug seizures Thursday, including nearly a ton of marijuana and eight ounces of heroin.

Agents from the Laredo North station made the biggest seizure of the day when they stopped an attempt to smuggle more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana through the checkpoint located on Interstate 35 north of Laredo. When agents conducted an immigration inspection on the driver of a tractor trailer, a Border Patrol canine alerted toward the trailer, indicating the possible presence of hidden contraband or people.

Agents searched the trailer and found several cellophane-wrapped bundles among the regular cargo. The bundles contained marijuana with a total weight of 1,022 pounds and an estimated street value of $817,600. The marijuana, truck and driver were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

In another case, agents assigned to the Laredo South station were patrolling near the Santa Rita neighborhood when they discovered a small plastic-wrapped bundle. The bundle contained eight ounces of black tar heroin with an estimated street value of $40,000. The heroin was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Other agents assigned to the Laredo North station made another seizure when they responded to reports of suspicious activity on a farm west of Laredo. The agents observed some subjects loading large bundles into a pickup truck with a utility bed. When the agents approached the truck, the subjects ran into the brush and the driver drove away. The truck went a short distance and stopped. The driver abandoned the vehicle and ran into the brush. Agents searched the area but were unable to find any of the subjects.

Agents searched the truck and found 35 cellophane-wrapped bundles. The bundles contained marijuana with a total weight of 532.8 pounds and an estimated street value of $426,240. The marijuana and the truck were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Agents assigned to the Laredo West station also seized some marijuana Thursday. They responded to reports of suspicious activity on a ranch west of Laredo. During their investigation, the agents apprehended eight subjects and found six cellophane-wrapped bundles. The bundles contained marijuana with a total weight of 215.6 pounds and an estimated street value of $172,480. The subjects and the marijuana were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Agents from the Laredo North station made the last seizure when they investigated a suspicious vehicle that was parked near a business located north of Laredo. As agents approached the car, the driver jumped from the vehicle and ran. The agents apprehended him and searched the car, where they found three cellophane-wrapped bundles in the trunk. The bundles contained marijuana with a total weight of 150.73 pounds and an estimated street value of $120,584. The marijuana, the car and the driver were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

To report suspicious activity such as drug and/or alien smuggling, contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free telephone number at 1-800-343-1994.

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.