HOUSTON — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston, working in conjunction with HSI Eagle Pass, HSI Mexico City, and HSI Headquarters, is investigating an attempt to traffic approximately 6½ tons of methamphetamine into the United States that was destined for Houston.
The meth was smuggled through the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on Feb. 18 and was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations at the Camino Real International Bridge. The meth that was seized is the largest ever encountered by law enforcement in a single trafficking attempt at a port of entry and is valued at more than $117 million.
“For far too long, drug trafficking organizations have been raking in billions of dollars at the expense of our communities that are left ravaged by addiction, death and despair as a result of these poisonous substances,” said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson. “Thanks to outstanding teamwork between HSI Houston, HSI Eagle Pass, HSI Mexico City and our partners at CBP, we have prevented a record-breaking amount of these narcotics from making it to Houston, where they would have destroyed an untold number of lives.”
“This massive seizure is a testament of what law enforcement agencies can do when we combine forces,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee, whose office oversees HSI Eagle Pass. “These efforts prevented over $117 million worth of deadly drugs from entering our country, which spared countless lives from potential addiction and overdose deaths. HSI appreciates our great law enforcement partners in South Texas and will continue to work together to disrupt transnational criminal organizations.”
“This gargantuan methamphetamine seizure, the largest ever taken down by CBP officers at a port of entry, uniquely illustrates the serious narcotics threat our officers face on a daily basis and their effectiveness at utilizing our technological enforcement tools, expertise and experience to zero-in on these threats,” said Director of Field Operations Donald Kusser of the Laredo field office. “This seizure exemplifies our officers’ steadfast commitment to advancing CBP’s priority border security mission while facilitating lawful trade and travel.”
The meth was hidden in the back of a tractor-trailer that was manifesting a shipment of drying agent for piglets and was uncovered when CBP officers referred the truck for secondary inspection. Following a canine and nonintrusive inspection system examination, CBP officers discovered a total of nearly 13,101 pounds of alleged methamphetamine within the conveyance.
HSI is investigating the drug trafficking attempt. CBP conducted the interdiction of the narcotics.
For more breaking news and information on HSI Houston’s efforts to aggressively investigate drug trafficking in Southeast Texas follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @HSIHouston.
About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.