El Paso Area CBP Officers Seize Nearly 5K Lbs. Of Marijuana

EL PASO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers performing anti-terror inspections at border ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas, and New Mexico made 42 drug busts this week.

CBP officers seized 4,982 pounds of marijuana in 39 seizures and small quantities of cocaine and heroin in three additional busts.

In one interesting triple-play case this week, CBP officers discovered a drug load concealed in a stolen vehicle that was also transporting an illegal alien who was attempting to enter the U.S. The seizure happened late Wednesday night at the Bridge of the Americas crossing when a 2004 Nissan Quest van entered the port from Mexico.

CBP officers selected the vehicle for an intensive inspection. CBP drug sniffing dog “Blu” alerted officers to the gas tank, wherethey discovered 145 marijuana-filled bundles that weighed 153 pounds.

CBP officers continued their inspection and determined that the vehicle being used in the smuggling attempt had been reported stolen. CBP officers then also were able to confirm that a 15-year-old male passenger in the van was a citizen of Mexico attempting to illegally enter the U.S.

That person was returned to relatives in Mexico. ICE agents arrested the driver of the van, an 18-year-old female U.S. resident from Las Cruces, New Mexico, in the failed smuggling attempt. During the past week, thorough document reviews generated a total of 117 apprehensions of fugitives and other people who had been previously removed from the country.

Included in the group were individuals being sought on aggravated sexual assault of a child charges, drug charges, burglary charges and a variety of other violations. CBP officers working at area border ports recorded 140 immigration violations during the last seven days.

CBP officers identified a total of 39 intended immigrant cases (people with legitimate entry documents intending to live/work illegally in the U.S.), 58 imposters (people using a legitimate document not assigned to the person) 28 false claims for U.S. citizenship by non U.S. citizens, 10 people attempting to enter the U.S. with counterfeit, fraudulent, or altered entry documents, four people who entered the U.S. without inspection, and one visa overstay violation.

Area CBP officers made 12 agricultural and food seizures during the week, resulting in $3,000 in penalties being assessed. Prohibited items seized this week included bologna, pork ham, sugar cane figs, quinces, pomegranates, apples, peaches, grapefruit, mangos, guavas and cactus fruit. The interception of these prohibited items are important in preventing the introduction of pests and disease that pose a risk to the U.S. agriculture industry.

CBP officers screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, and protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.