EL PASO, Texas -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers working at the El Paso port of entry seized 58 pounds of crystal methamphetamine Wednesday. The drugs were concealed in the quarter panels of a car. The seizure was one of four drug busts made by CBP officers working at the El Paso port Wednesday.
“Homeland security is our primary mission however the drug smuggling threat is constant,” said Beverly Good, CBP El Paso Port Director. “Vigilant CBP officers are detecting drug loads on a daily basis which helps keep our community safe.”
![Bundles of crystal methamphetamine.](/sites/default/files/styles/webp_original_size/public/u413/july27meth2.JPG.webp?itok=JeyJNSDn)
methamphetamine.
The seizure was made just before 4 p.m. when a 2000 Ford Focus with a single female driver entered the Bridge of the Americas international crossing from Mexico. A CBP officer working at the primary inspection station noted an issue with the quarter panels. The CBP officer also detected that the driver was acting nervous. A CBP drug sniffing canine searched the vehicle and alerted to the presence of drugs. An x-ray exam also identified several anomalies in the appearance of the quarter panels. CBP officers continued the exam and removed 57 methamphetamine filled bundles form the car.
CBP officers took custody of the driver, a 24-year-old citizen of Mexico. She was turned over to the El Paso County Sheriff’s office to face charges associated with the failed drug smuggling attempt.
In addition to the methamphetamine seizure, CBP officers working at the El Paso port seized 320 pounds of marijuana in three other cases.
While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.