Texas Border Business
EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at El Paso area ports of entry seized sizeable amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine over the last two weeks.
“We have seen the devasting number of drug overdose deaths occurring in our nation. Every time a CBP officer stops a drug load it can potentially save the life of one of our fellow citizens,” said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha.
On May 20, CBP officers working at the Bridge of the Americas border crossing intercepted 22.75 pounds of methamphetamine from a 34-year-old female Mexican citizen. Following a CBP canine alert CBP officers located multiple bundles hidden within the vehicle.
On May 21, CBP officers working at the Ysleta border crossing intercepted 38.22 pounds of cocaine from a 51-year-old male Mexican citizen. CBP officers located multiple bundles hidden within the vehicle following a CBP canine alert and non-intrusive (x-ray scan) inspection.
On May 23, CBP officers working at the Paso Del Norte border crossing intercepted 24.25 pounds of cocaine from a 28-year-old male U.S. citizen. The discovery was made following a non-intrusive (x-ray scan) inspection of the vehicle and a CBP canine alert.
On May 25, CBP officers working at the Bridge of the Americas border crossing intercepted 31.3 pounds of methamphetamine, 15.65 pounds of fentanyl and 16.62 pounds of cocaine in two separate unrelated incidents minutes apart. In the first incident, a CBP canine led CBP officers to the discovery of bundles of cocaine concealed throughout a vehicle driven by a 23-year-old male Mexican citizen. A few minutes later, CBP officers inspected a vehicle driven by a 45-year-old male Mexican citizen. Upon a secondary inspection, CBP officers located multiple bundles filled with fentanyl and methamphetamine within the vehicle.
On May 26, CBP officers working at the Bridge of the Americas border crossing intercepted 25.52 pounds of cocaine from a 23-year-old female U.S. citizen. Following a CBP canine alert CBP officers located multiple bundles hidden within the vehicle.
On May 27, CBP officers working at the Paso del Norte border crossing intercepted 45.74 pounds of methamphetamine from a 22-year-old female U.S. citizen. CBP officers located multiple bundles hidden within the vehicle following a CBP canine alert.
On May 29, CBP officers working at the Paso Del Norte border crossing intercepted a mixed load of 8.46 pounds of fentanyl and five pounds of heroin. The discovery was made following a primary inspection of a vehicle driven by a 48-year-old female Mexican citizen, and a CBP canine alert. That same day, CBP officers intercepted 2.1 pounds of methamphetamine from a 23-year-old male U.S. citizen via pedestrian. Upon a pat down search CBP officers discovered multiple bundles strapped to the individual’s body.
On May 30, CBP officers working at the Paso del Norte border crossing intercepted 12.78 pounds of cocaine from an 18-year-old male U.S. citizen. CBP officers located multiple bundles hidden within the vehicle following a primary search of the vehicle.
The subjects arrested by CBP officers were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations or local authorities for prosecution.
Additionally, CBP officers arrested 26 fugitives from justice. The arrests made were for dangerous drugs, fraud, obscenity, larceny, aggravated assault and sexual assault of a child.
