Texas Border Agents Find $7 Million Worth of Cocaine Hidden in Flower Truck
Uh oh, Valentine’s Day may have had a flower shortage in Texas. A flower truck was busted by border agents for carrying $7 million worth of cocaine. The illicit drug was hiding under fresh roses that may not have reached their final destination.
Texas border agents find $7 Million worth of cocaine in a flower truck
Fresh roses were en route to stores for Valentine’s Day until United States Customs and Border Protection officers noticed an issue at the border. The semi-truck was at the port of entry in Laredo, Texas.
The tractor-trailer declared that it was only carrying fresh flowers and roses, but something seemed off. It was referred for a secondary inspection.
According to the Houston Chronicle, a non-intrusive imaging system and canine team discovered an illicit substance. Officers found 211 lbs of cocaine hidden under the flowers.
The packages contain 516 lbs of cocaine. That’s enough for about 190,000 lethal doses and has a state value of roughly $6,899,798.
However, this practice of using flowers to smuggle drugs into America isn’t a new trend. This is a common practice, as roses and flowers are a major export for countries like Colombia.
Flower trucks are commonly targeted by criminal gangs. Lovers on this special holiday could be smelling roses that were closer to illegal drugs than expected.
Homeland Security Investigations special agents have taken over the ongoing investigation into the smuggling attempt. It’s unclear if any arrests have been made.
Port Director Alberto Flores shares, “This substantial cocaine seizure at the World Trade Bridge highlights the steadfast dedication of our officers in safeguarding our borders and communities from the threat of illicit drug trafficking.”
