September 18, 2007 Laredo, Texas
Customs/Border Agents find 2 pounds of heroin inside of shoes

These boots were made for walking, but not for smuggling. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Laredo port of entry recently intercepted a smuggling attempt of nearly three pounds of heroin valued at almost $300,000 hidden in the soles of the boots of a man.

The heroin seizure occurred on Tuesday at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge shortly before 9 a.m. when CBP officers referred a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta being driven by Reymundo Rivera Arguello, a 39-year-old Mexican citizen from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico for secondary examination.

During the examination, CBP detector dog "Kuro" alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the driver's side and the interior of the vehicle. Upon further inspection and the application of officer observational skills, CBP officers detected discrepancies with the man's footwear.

A closer visual inspection of the footwear revealed brown tape-wrapped packages within the soles of the man's boots. CBP officers discovered two packages containing nearly three pounds of heroin inside the soles of the boots. The driver was arrested by CBP officers on federal drug violations and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents who investigated the seizure. The vehicle was also seized.

"Whether travelers are barefoot or shod, our officers are always ever-vigilant at our port for any type of suspicious activity," said Gene Garza, CBP Laredo port director. "We find contraband most anywhere and this case demonstrates that. Canine and officer working together as a team allowed us to ferret out this criminal activity."
 Source: U.S. Customs