CBP Officers Nab $2.5m Worth of Cocaine at Int’l Bridge
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers make a multi-million dollar cocaine bust at an El Paso-area Port of Entry.
CBP officials say that officers working at the Ysleta Port of Entry made the 79.64 pound cocaine seizure Thursday night, shortly before 10p.m.
According to officials, a 1999 Ford Windstar minivan arrived at the port from Mexico. CBP officers, as well as canine teams and Border Patrol Agents conducted a sweep of vehicles waiting in line at the bridge when CBP drug sniffing dog “Shake” signaled to officers and agents that something had been detected.
CBP officers examined the minivan and located a non-factory compartment in the floor. They then drilled into the compartment and removed a white substance that tested positive for cocaine. 0fficers removed a total of 20 cocaine-filled bundles from the compartment.
Officers arrested the driver, 32-year-old Brenda Molina Sanchez. Officials say Molina Sanchez is a United States Citizen of El Paso. She was then turned over to ICE-HSI special agents after the case was accepted for federal prosecution and booked into the El Paso County jail.
CBP officials add that Molina Sanchez remains in custody and is being held without bond.
Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Port Director says, “Our CBP officers working hand in glove in inspections together with Border Patrol agents in our Anti-Terrorist Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET) have been making excellent interceptions and this is an impressive seizure to add to their accomplishments.”
