EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso area ports of entry have encountered individuals attempting to smuggle fentanyl concealed internally within their bodies over the past week.
“Smugglers will utilize any and all methods available to introduce contraband to the United States,” said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector A. Mancha. “CBP uses multiple layers of enforcement to identify and stop these smugglers. Some of those layers include technology, officer expertise, and canine enforcement teams.”
On June 6, CBP officers working at the Ysleta border crossing, intercepted a 34-year-old-female U.S. citizen who attempted to smuggle 0.23 pounds of fentanyl concealed inside her rectal cavity (www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/el-paso-area-cbp-officers-seize-87-pounds-hard-narcotics).
On June 11, CBP officers working the pedestrian lanes at the Paso Del Norte border crossing intercepted a 34-year-old female U.S. citizen who attempted to smuggle 0.14 pounds of fentanyl. The female was referred for a secondary inspection where a CBP canine alerted to the possible presence of drugs on the woman. A pat down search was conducted where CBP officers discovered a drug-filled balloon that had dislodged from her vaginal cavity.
On June 13, CBP officers working the pedestrian lanes at the Paso del Norte border crossing intercepted a 47-year-old female U.S. citizen who attempted to smuggle 0.07 pounds of fentanyl. During a secondary inspection a pat down search was conducted where CBP officers felt a foreign object in her groin area. The female then admitted to carrying drugs and voluntarily removed a bundle from her vaginal cavity.
The subjects arrested by CBP officers were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations and other federal agencies for prosecution.