see also: in June 2008:   CBP in New Orleans Offers Tips for International Air Travelers for Summer Season   CBP Offers Tips for International Air Travelers in Memphis for Summer Season   U.S. Customs and Border Protection to Host San Diego Hiring Event   Baltimore CBP Recovers Stolen Vehicle Being Shipped Overseas   Canada, U.S. Sign Arrangement to Align Security Standards for Cross-Border Business   CBP, Texas Strengthen Partnership to Ensure Border Security ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Laredo, Texas – Border Patrol agents from the Laredo North station made several significant drug seizures at an Arizona checkpoint during the past weekend.

The first case occurred on Friday, June 27, when agents working at the checkpoint conducted an immigration inspection of the lone occupant of a 2000 Toyota Camry. As the agents spoke to the driver, a Border Patrol canine alerted toward the rear of the car, indicating the possible presence of hidden people or contraband.

Agents searched the car and found a false compartment built into the bottom of the trunk. Inside the compartment, agents discovered 15 cellophane-wrapped packages. The packages contained 35 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of more than $1.1 million. The drugs, the driver and the vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The second case happened Saturday morning when agents at the checkpoint conducted an immigration inspection of the two occupants of a 1998 Buick Regal. A Border Patrol canine alerted toward the rear of the car, indicating the possible presence of hidden people or contraband.

Agents searched the car and found 23 cellophane-wrapped bundles hidden in the rear bumper. The bundles contained 55.6 pounds of crystal methamphetamine with an estimated value of $1,779,200. The drugs and the vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The subjects were processed for removal.

Agents working at the Arizona checkpoint made the third seizure on Saturday night. In that case, agents were conducting an immigration inspection on the driver of a tractor trailer when a Border Patrol canine alerted toward the trailer. 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 detected an anomaly in some of the cargo crates being transported in the trailer.

Agents examined the crates and found 190 bundles wrapped with grey duct tape. The bundles contained a total of 3,198 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of $2,558,400. The drugs, the driver and the vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

In addition to these cases, Laredo Sector agents made several other drug seizures over the weekend. The other cases included:

• 99.2 pounds of marijuana found abandoned near the Rio Grande by Laredo West station agents on Friday.
• 85.95 pounds of marijuana from a pickup truck by Hebbronville station agents at the checkpoint on Farm to Market Road 1017 on Saturday.
• 64.41 pounds of marijuana from a pickup truck by Hebbronville station agents at the checkpoint on State Highway 16 on Saturday.
• 56.8 pounds of marijuana from a commercial bus by Laredo North station agents at the I-35 checkpoint on Saturday.

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.