News (Media Awareness Project) - US TX: Customs Discovers Millions In Heroin In Truck At Border |
Title: | US TX: Customs Discovers Millions In Heroin In Truck At Border |
Published On: | 2000-12-20 |
Source: | Austin American-Statesman (TX) |
Fetched On: | 2008-09-02 08:19:08 |
CUSTOMS DISCOVERS MILLIONS IN HEROIN IN TRUCK AT BORDER
LAREDO -- U.S. Customs inspectors discovered 59 pounds of heroin under the
dashboard of a pickup during an inspection on the Gateway to the Americas
Bridge. It was the largest load of heroin confiscated along the
Texas-Mexico border in recent memory, said Gene Garza, the Customs port
director in Laredo. Heroin is worth as much as $1 million a pound.
The driver, 24-year-old Jesus Humberto Mendoza, was arrested during Sunday
night's seizure. A magistrate ordered Mendoza, a permanent resident living
in San Antonio, held without bail on drug-smuggling charges.
Customs officials said the 1997 Ford F-150 pickup stalled after a routine
inspection at the primary booth. The driver pushed the vehicle to a
secondary inspection lane, where a drug-sniffing dog led inspectors to the
dashboard.
Garza said no heroin seizure on the Texas-Mexico border has compared in
size since 55 pounds were found in a motor home entering theUnited States
at Del Rio in January 1996
LAREDO -- U.S. Customs inspectors discovered 59 pounds of heroin under the
dashboard of a pickup during an inspection on the Gateway to the Americas
Bridge. It was the largest load of heroin confiscated along the
Texas-Mexico border in recent memory, said Gene Garza, the Customs port
director in Laredo. Heroin is worth as much as $1 million a pound.
The driver, 24-year-old Jesus Humberto Mendoza, was arrested during Sunday
night's seizure. A magistrate ordered Mendoza, a permanent resident living
in San Antonio, held without bail on drug-smuggling charges.
Customs officials said the 1997 Ford F-150 pickup stalled after a routine
inspection at the primary booth. The driver pushed the vehicle to a
secondary inspection lane, where a drug-sniffing dog led inspectors to the
dashboard.
Garza said no heroin seizure on the Texas-Mexico border has compared in
size since 55 pounds were found in a motor home entering theUnited States
at Del Rio in January 1996
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