Roughly 5,591 pounds of marijuana was seized in a Laredo, Texas home, according to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) press release submitted to Breitbart Texas late Wednesday.
A tip to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) about drugs being stored in a Laredo residence ultimately led to the two-plus ton discovery. Agents from several government agencies ultimately worked together to conduct the bust–according to a press release, ICE, HSI, Task Force Officers of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), and the Laredo Police Department were all on the scene.
Agents believe the drugs were being held in a “stash house” to be picked up at a later time. The estimated value of the marijuana is $4.4 million.
San Antonio-based HSI Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala was quoted in the release stating, “The seizure of nearly 5,600 pounds of marijuana dealt a big blow to the criminal organization involved in this drug smuggling venture. These criminals lost their illicit product and the profits from their planned sale and distribution. The evidence collected at the scene will assist our investigation to dismantle the entire organization.”
The incident in Laredo is the most recent in a string of large marijuana busts relating to stash houses in Texas since the New Year.
Earlier this month, 32-year-old Diego Santillan of Del Rio, Texas was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for possessing over 100 kilograms of marijuana with the intent to distribute. As Breitbart Texas reported, Santillan operated multiple stash houses full of illegal drugs. Of Santillan’s case, Ayala said, “This investigation resulted in dismantling a large-scale drug-smuggling, -staging and -transporting operation. HSI is committed to making our communities safer by conducting joint robust investigations with the San Antonio Police Department, and other law enforcement partners, to achieve that goal.”
Follow Kristin Tate on Twitter @KristinBTate
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