El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Paso Del Norte downtown bridge crossing in El Paso discovered 21.23 pounds of cocaine hidden in a non factory gas tank compartment of a 1991 Honda Accord yesterday.
"Yesterday's interdiction removes a sizeable amount of cocaine from the streets of our communities and the reach of our youth," said Barry Miller, CBP, assistant port director in El Paso. "This noteworthy seizure highlights CBP's determination to serve this nation in protecting our homeland."
The seizure was made at about 3:52 a.m. when CBP officers were conducting primary enforcement operations. During the operation CBP drug detector dog "Udo" alerted officers to the presence of narcotic odors emanating from the Honda Accord. Officers then escorted both the driver and vehicle to the secondary area for further examination.
An intensive inspection led officers to the discovery of eight wrapped packages of cocaine concealed in a non-factory compartment in the gas tank under the back seat of the vehicle.
CBP officers arrested the smuggler, who is identified as 18-year-old Eduardo Hernandez, of El Paso, Texas. He was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents and booked into the El Paso County Jail where he is being held without bond.
CBP Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports of entry. CBP officers' primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases, and enforcing trade laws.