EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at El Paso area ports of entry stopped multiple hard narcotics smuggling attempts over the weekend.
“The seizures made during the last several days illustrate the challenges CBP officers face in sorting legitimate travelers from those who are smuggling contraband,” said CBP El Paso Director Field Operations Hector A. Mancha. “CBP officers must always remain vigilant because the variety of smugglers and concealment methods they employ is almost limitless.”
On August 26, CBP officers working at the Paso Del Norte border crossing encountered a 19-year-old, male U.S. citizen via the pedestrian lanes. After inspection, CBP officers noted that the man dropped an unknown bundle while walking. CBP officers retrieved the bundle. It contained 0.13 pounds of fentanyl.
On August 27, CBP officers working at the Ysleta border crossing encountered a 14-year-old, U.S. citizen, male via the pedestrian lanes. A secondary inspection of the teenager was conducted where CBP officers located two bags concealed around the waist area containing 0.7 pounds of methamphetamine and 0.52 pounds of fentanyl.
A few hours later, CBP officers working at the Santa Teresa border crossing intercepted 22.92 pounds of cocaine. CBP officers located multiple bundles hidden in a vehicle following a CBP canine alert and non-intrusive inspection (x-ray) scan. The driver of the vehicle was 36-year-old female, Mexican citizen.
Later that same evening. CBP officers working at the Paso Del Norte border crossing encountered a 42-year-old female, U.S. citizen via pedestrian lanes. During a pat down search, the female voluntarily removed one bundle from her vaginal cavity. Within the primary bundle were several individually wrapped bags containing ecstasy, methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl. The combined weight of the drugs was under half a pound.
On August 29, CBP officers working at the Ysleta border crossing encountered a 28-year-old female U.S citizen via the pedestrian lanes. During a secondary inspection, a CBP canine alerted to the odor of narcotics leading the female to voluntarily remove one bundle from her underwear containing 0.06 pounds of methamphetamine
The individuals arrested by CBP were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents or state and local authorities for prosecution.