EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso area ports of entry intercepted 714 pounds of methamphetamine, 105 pounds of fentanyl, 32 pounds of heroin, and 660 pounds of marijuana since the beginning of December.
On Dec. 2, at the Ysleta Border Crossing, CBP Officers intercepted a mixed load of more than eight pounds of fentanyl, seven pounds of heroin and five pounds of cocaine. The driver was an 18-year-old, male, U.S. citizen, driving a Nissan Sentra.
On Dec. 6, CBP Officers conducting inspections at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad crossing identified anomalies in one of the railcars. Upon further inspection, CBP Officers discovered 119 bundles of marijuana weighing 634 pounds.
On Dec. 7, CBP Officers working at the Santa Teresa Cargo facility intercepted 524 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 2 pounds of fentanyl. A Non-Intrusive inspection revealed inconsistencies in the roof of a Kenworth tractor trailer where CBP Officers discovered the narcotics.
On Dec. 8, at the Bridge of the Americas Border Crossing, a 26-year-old male, U.S citizen, was referred for a secondary inspection, where a drug sniffing dog alerted to a trained odor emitting from liquid detergent bottles. Further examination of the liquid resulted in a positive result for the properties of methamphetamine. More than 55 pounds of liquid methamphetamine were discovered inside the bottles. The following day, CBP Officers conducting operations along with a canine, intercepted more than 23 pounds of fentanyl concealed in the spare tire of a Ford Expedition driven by a 22-year-old, male, United States citizen.
On Dec. 10, CBP Officers working at the Paso Del Norte Border Crossing discovered more than 24 pounds of heroin concealed in the quarter panels of a SUV, driven by a 44-year-old male, Lawful Permanent Resident from Oklahoma. The following day, CBP Officers selected a Ford F-150 driven by a 38-year-old female, U.S citizen, for inspection. The inspection led to the discovery of more than 73 pounds of fentanyl.
On Dec. 11, CBP Officers at the Ysleta Border Crossing intercepted more than 132 pounds of methamphetamine. The discovery was made when a CBP Officer performed a primary inspection of a 2016 Nissan Sentra occupied by two U.S. citizen males, a 26-year-old and a 28-year-old. The narcotics were discovered in the floor of the vehicle.
On Dec. 12, CBP officers assigned to the Paso Del Norte Border Crossing, intercepted more than two pounds of methamphetamine. The narcotics were seized from a 32-year-old male, U.S citizen, who presented himself for inspection via the pedestrian crossing. A secondary inspection led to the discovery of four bundles strapped to his legs.
In addition to the most significant narcotic seizures, CBP Officers arrested 31 fugitives from justice. The arrests made were for crimes such as sexual assault, dangerous drugs, alien smuggling, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, kidnapping, neglect of a child and sexual abuse of a child.
All subjects were arrested by CBP officers and turned over to federal authorities to face charges.