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  4. CBP Officers Seize More than 48 Pounds of Cocaine at the El Paso Port

CBP Officers Seize More than 48 Pounds of Cocaine at the El Paso Port

Release Date
Mon, 05/17/2010

El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at El Paso area ports of entry made one cocaine, one steroid and 10 marijuana seizures during the weekend. CBP officers confiscated a total of 48.62 pounds of cocaine, 712 pounds of marijuana and 104 units of steroids.

"The layered enforcement approach CBP utilizes helped in making this seizure," said Ana Hinojosa, CBP Director of Field Operations in El Paso. "This interdiction removes a sizeable amount of cocaine from the streets of our communities and the reach of our youth."

CBP officers at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in the El Paso port of entry confiscated 48.62 pounds of cocaine on Friday from a 41-year-old female from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The seizure was made during a pre-primary inspection of a 2002 Dodge Durango that was selected for inspection. The vehicle was taken to a separate inspection area where an extensive inspection of the vehicle was conducted. CBP officers discovered 19 packages concealed in a false floor compartment and in the rear seat area. The contents of the bundles tested positive for cocaine.

CBP officers at the port arrested the driver, Lorenza Chavez Santos. She was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents to face federal charges.

In addition to the drug seizures, CBP officers recorded 46 immigration violations at area ports this weekend, including 32 intended immigrants and 14 imposters. Intended immigrants will use a legally issued border-crossing card (laser visa) to live or work in the U.S., which is not authorized. They also lose their documents and are generally returned to Mexico. Imposters generally will use a legitimate entry document assigned to another person and present it as their own. Violators generally lose their documents, can be prosecuted and go to jail and/or are returned to Mexico.

CBP officers working at area ports also made two fugitive apprehensions.

CBP officers working at ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas and New Mexico made three seizures of agricultural items. Violators paid $550 in penalties in association with the violations. Prohibited food products seized included mangos, seed pods, byrsonima fruit, acrocomia aculeata fruit and pork skins.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021