CBP officers seize marijuana & cocaine

June 19, 2007 04:23 PM PDT



Laredo, Texas - Alert U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Laredo Port of Entry this weekend seized marijuana, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia, valued at a combined $463,000 in three separate, unrelated enforcement actions.

On June 16, 2007, shortly before 5:00 p.m., CBP officers at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge referred a 1999 Mercury Mystique, driven by Carlo Gonzalez-Castillo, 18, a Mexican citizen from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, for a secondary examination. During the examination CBP officers noted discrepancies to the battery-compartment of the vehicle. CBP Canine "Darco" alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the same area. The vehicle was referred for further examination utilizing a non-intrusive imaging system that revealed an anomaly within the battery of the car. Upon further examination, CBP officers discovered 3 packages containing 11 pounds of cocaine within the battery. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $352,000. CBP officers arrested Gonzalez-Castillo on federal possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance charges and turned Gonzalez- Castillo over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

(ICE) special agents who investigated the seizure.

On June 17, 2007, shortly before 7:00 p.m., CBP officers at the Lincoln- Juarez Bridge referred a 1998 Dodge Ram pickup truck, driven by Orlando Garcia-Villarreal, 30, a Mexican citizen from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, for a secondary examination. During the examination, CBP officers detected discrepancies in the gas tank and CBP Canine "Hank" alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the same area. A non-intrusive examining tool also indicated anomalies in the same area. Upon further examination, CBP officers discovered 33 bundles of marijuana in the gas tank. CBP officers seized a total of 109 pounds of marijuana. The marijuana has an estimated street value of $109, 000. CBP officers arrested Garcia-Villarreal, and passenger Hortencia Coronado-Hernandez, 36, also of Nuevo Laredo, on federal drug charges and turned the pair over to ICE special agents who investigated the seizure.

On June 17, 2007, CBP officers at the World Trade Bridge referred a commercial shipment for secondary examination. The shipment listed its merchandise as "marble smoking pipes". Further examination of the shipment revealed the stone pipes to be drug paraphernalia and that the same type of pipes are used for inhaling marijuana. CBP officers seized the 14-carton shipment containing 4,400 pipes valued at $1,250.

"Our officers maintain their ever-present vigilance for any and all violations of law at all of our crossings, both in the commercial and passenger environments." Our officers' commitment to safeguard our country is evidenced by the enforcement actions that they continually conduct as a part of our mission," said Gene Garza, CBP Port Director, Laredo.