CBP: Woman straps meth to her body; tries to cross border

A 33-year-old Kansas woman tried to smuggle methamphetamine into the U.S. by strapping two bundles full of drugs to her body on New Year’s Day, a law enforcement spokesman said.

Melissa Kay Villar, of Wichita, faces charges for the failed smuggling attempt.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman said Villar walked onto the Bridge of the Americas Wednesday after 5 p.m., but as she tried to cross through the pedestrian inspection station, an officer noticed the unusual bulge in her lower back.

Upon inspection, the officers found the woman used bandages to strap two bundles of meth to her body. The drugs weighed 1.15 pounds.

“History has shown that smugglers don’t take holidays off and neither do we,” said CBP El Paso Port Director Hector Mancha in a statement.