Texas Border Sees Huge Heroin Bust and Arrest of Wanted Felon

On two separate occasions, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized almost 30 pounds of heroin from slipping into the country, along with an arrest made of someone charged with indecency with a child.

Wanted Felon Arrested at Texas Border

On September 15, CBP officers at Eagle Pass International Bridge stopped 46-year-old Merlin Martinez, a U.S. citizen, for secondary inspection. After running Martinez through biometric verification, they discovered two outstanding warrants for his arrest.

One warrant was issued by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office for indecency with a child by sexual contact. The second active warrant was for possession of marijuana out of Maverick County.

Martinez was detained and turned over to the Maverick County Sheriff's Office to await criminal proceedings.

Massive Heroin Seizure Along Texas Border

Just one day prior to the arrest of Merlin Martinez, CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry intercepted over $557,000 of alleged heroin hidden inside a vehicle.

Laredo Port of Entry Port Director Alberto Flores voiced his support for the drug discovery:

Our frontline CBP officers continue to apply their inspection skills together with the latest technology, and that combination yielded this significant hard narcotics interception.

On September 14, a 63-year-old Mexican citizen driving a 2008 Chrysler Voyager from Mexico into Texas was stopped in Laredo, TX.

Officers referred the man to secondary inspection where further investigation inside his vehicle was conducted, including the use of a canine unit.

Eventually, 12 packages weighing in at 29.05 pounds of alleged heroin were discovered. The total street value of the illegal narcotics was estimated to be $557,237.