Step.- Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Puente de las Américas and Paso del Norte border crossings intercepted more than an estimated $422,000 worth of fentanyl and cocaine in two failed smuggling attempts over the weekend.
“CBP officers continue to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs at our ports of entry,” said Ray Provencio, CBP El Paso Port Director. “Intensified surveillance and the use of various tools and resources reinforce the success of preventing these harmful narcotics from entering our country. Layered enforcement and officer experience play a role in stopping drug smuggling.”
On Friday, CBP officers assigned to the Paso Del Norte border crossing encountered a 22-year-old United States citizen who arrived from Mexico through the vehicle lanes. The individual was referred for a secondary inspection of the vehicle which included a review by a CBP canine team and a non-intrusive examination. Physical inspection of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of multiple drug-filled packages containing 25.5 pounds of cocaine.
On Saturday, CBP officers assigned to the Bridge of the Americas border crossing encountered a 20-year-old U.S. citizen who arrived from Mexico through the vehicle lanes. The individual was referred for a secondary inspection of the vehicle where, with the aid of a non-intrusive CBP canine examination, CBP officers located several drug-filled packages containing 16 pounds of fentanyl.
Both cases were accepted for federal prosecution and were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for further investigation.
