Border Patrol agents intercepted nearly $10 million at the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas

Last Friday, a massive raid on the US-Mexico border in Laredo, Texas was announced, and law enforcement officials showcased the seizure of stacked bales of cannabis in a wall-like structure posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

In one fell swoop, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers assigned to the World Trade Bridge seized over two tons of cannabis. Border agents searched a suspected truck and discovered it was loaded with 4,466 pounds of marijuana and had a street value of nearly $10 million.

The bust happened last Thursday, September 14th, at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo. A CBP officer flagged a 2023 Freightliner tractor trailer that was allegedly shipping household goods for secondary inspection. And after a thorough investigation using the Border Patrol’s non-contact inspection system, CBP officers discovered 177 packages inside the trailer containing a total of 4,466 pounds of alleged cannabis. According to a Sept. 15 press release, law enforcement has reported a street value of $9,904,204.

“Our CBP officers continue to maintain strict vigilance in our cargo environment and achieved a major success this week with the seizure of more than two tons of marijuana,” said Port Director Albert Flores of the Laredo Port of Entry. “Compared to the harder narcotics, we haven’t seen as much marijuana recently, but it highlights the ever-changing nature of the drug threat our officers face on a daily basis.”

CBP agents primarily deal with cannabis and drugs entering the country, not the other way.

A photo shows the packages containing 4,466 pounds of cannabis seized by CBP officers at the World Trade Bridge. CBP agents seized the cannabis, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents are currently investigating the seizure.

CPB is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders, unifying customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry. CBP is one of the world’s largest law enforcement agencies with the primary goal of keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the United States, but also enforcing lawful international travel and commerce.

Cannabis seizures along the U.S.-Mexico border, which stretches nearly 2,000 miles, have actually declined dramatically in recent years, consistent with adult-use cannabis laws in the West: Seizures were of about 1,350 tons in the year 2013 to about 70 tons in 2022, according to CBP statistics.

Cannabis crosses the border from both sides

The US-Mexico border isn’t the only border line to worry about in 2023.

In 2019, a border patrol seized $100,000 worth of cannabis in New York state, near Canada.

Border Patrol agents and police seized approximately 50 pounds of cannabis during a traffic stop near the U.S.-Canada border in New York state in 2019. Officials estimated the pot was worth more than $100,000, according to a news release from CPB.

Massena Border Patrol Station agents were on duty when they stopped a red pickup truck in the parking lot of a hotel in Hogansburg, New York. After requesting assistance from other nearby law enforcement agencies, the Border Patrol agents were joined by officers from the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police (SRMTP) and the New York State Police (NYSP).

After a canine unit with the SRMTP smelled something in the vehicle, officers discovered the cannabis hidden in luggage stored in the extended cab of the pickup.

In the north, some people are doing it by mistake: The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) issued a press release on June 26 to remind leisure travelers that no cannabis is allowed across the border.

For those planning to cross the U.S.-Canada border, CBSA recommends tips such as: B. planning waiting times at the border in advance, saving time with an advance declaration and having travel documents to hand. The topic of cannabis was also shared in this list.

The section titled “Cannabis: Don’t Bring It In.” “Don’t take it out.” refers to the restrictions on importing cannabis across the border. “Importation of cannabis across the border in any form, including oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption approved by Health Canada is a serious criminal offense despite the legalization of cannabis in Canada can be arrested and prosecuted.” . A medical prescription from a physician shall not be deemed an authorization from Health Canada.”