Laredo Border Patrol seizes $4.1 million cocaine haul at I-35 checkpoint

On March 29, Border Patrol agents at the I-35 Checkpoint in Laredo, Texas, intercepted a significant drug smuggling attempt, seizing 51 packages of cocaine weighing approximately 130 pounds, with an estimated street value of $4.1 million. The seizure was made possible after agents employed a Multi-Energy Portal (MEP) for enhanced inspections and a service canine for detection. The driver of the tractor-trailer was subsequently handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for prosecution. This incident is part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border, following several recent large seizures in Texas. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activities to local authorities. The MEP technology, installed in 2024, allows for rapid scanning of commercial vehicles, significantly improving drug detection capabilities.