Part 7/12:
A recent case in Laredo exemplifies this clandestine evolution. A DEA operation targeting THC-laced vapes led to the discovery of a tunnel beneath a local shop. While the seizure included controlled substances like cocaine and marijuana, the real concern lies in the tunnel itself, hinting at a larger underground trafficking network.
The strategic location of Laredo, a major inland port, makes it an ideal hub for cartels to exploit legal trade infrastructure and overlay it with covert smuggling channels. Cartels take advantage of the legalization of certain products and the high demand among youth, particularly with flavored vapor pens, to facilitate the entry of illegal substances—sometimes laced with psychoactive compounds—into American communities.