Meth seizures increase at El Paso ports of entry

“We have had an increase in methamphetamine seizures throughout the local area,” said Customs and Border Protection officer Cynthia Ralko.

Ralko tells us the amount of drug seizures seen at the El Paso ports of entry is dramatic.

“It’s been about a 1300% increase since 2012,” said Ralko.

That’s right, a 1300% increase.

Officer Ralko says there’s a few reasons for the jump.

“And that’s of course attributed unfortunately to the demand in the United States,” said Ralko.

In 2005 a law placed stricter guidelines on the sale of several medications used to make crystal meth. Making it harder for people in the U.S. to produce the drug.

Cartels are finding cheaper ways to make meth.

“The cartel is now procuring there precursors for methamphetamine production from china,” said Ralko.

Mexican cartels are now working out of super labs using new techniques to move the drug across the border.

“Mostly liquid and crystal,” said Ralko.

The liquid has been a new trend in smuggling.

“Located in reservoirs, gas tanks, in popular soda bottles in Gatorade bottles,” said Ralko.

But officer Ralko says the ports of entry have strong defenses.
“The dogs I believe are our best tools,” said Ralko.

K-9 units are trained to smell for meth even in liquid form.

Other tools, x-ray machines to detect makeshift compartments in cars and trained border agents to detect deception.

“We are also protecting high school kids and middle school kids. Maybe not from all drugs but that one pack that day..it’s not going to fall in the wrong hands,” said Ralko.