see also: in December 2007 News Releases:   Fugitive with $1 Million Bail Apprehended by CBP   Canada, CBP Team to Arrest U.S. Citizen Wanted for Sex Offense Charges With Child   Calexico, Calif. East Port to Extend Hours New Year’s Eve   Quick Action by Border Patrol Agent Saves Life on Christmas Day   CBP Officers Seize Over Half a Million in Cocaine, Marijuana, and Arrest One at Laredo Port of Entry   CBP Detains Missing Wanted Juvenile at Del Rio Port of Entry   CBP in Laredo, Texas Detains ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ Suspect Wanted on Bank Robbery Charges ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Laredo, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Laredo, Texas port of entry seized 148 pounds of cocaine valued at $4.7 million dollars and arrested two men in two separate incidents over the weekend.

Friday at approximately 10 p.m. CBP officers at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge referred a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 pick-up truck, driven by Javier Armando Salinas, a 35-year-old U.S. citizen from Laredo, Texas for a secondary examination. A scan of the truck revealed anomalies within the toolbox behind the cab of the pickup.

CBP canine "Tramp" alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the same location. Upon further examination of the truck and a closer visual inspection of the vehicle’s toolbox, CBP officers discovered clear plastic-wrapped bundles underneath a sheet of metal. A total of 25 bundles containing 56 pounds of cocaine were removed along with one bundle of crystal methamphetamine weighing 2 pounds from the compartment.

The cocaine has a street value of $1,792,000 and the crystal methamphetamine is valued at $30,000. CBP officers arrested the driver on federal drug violations and turned him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents who investigated the seizure. The truck also was seized.

The second incident occurred Saturdayat approximately 5:30 p.m. at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge. CBP officers referred a 2007 Nissan Titan pick-up truck, driven by Edgar Martinez Saldivar, a 34-year-old Mexican citizen from Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico for a secondary examination. During the examination, CBP officers detected discrepancies within the vehicle’s gas tank.

Utilizing a fiber-optic scope to inspect the gas tank, CBP officers detected cellophane wrapped packages within the tank. CBP canine “Martin” alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the gas tank as well.

A total of 40 packages containing 92 pounds of cocaine were removed from within the gas tank. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $2.9 million. CBP officers arrested the driver on federal drug violations and turned him over to ICE special agents who investigated the seizure. The pick-up truck also was seized.

"Some people will just never learn that we have highly sophisticated technology and dedicated personnel manning the front door to the U.S." said Lupe Ramirez, CBP acting port director, Laredo "The two latter ingredients make for an incredible interdiction force at our ports of entry. I continue to be amazed at the work of our frontline personnel. Job well done!"

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.