Nearly $500,000 in cocaine found in truck at El Paso port of entry

Cocaine estimated to be worth $468,000 was found in a truck on Monday at an El Paso port of entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers and U.S. Border Patrol agents working at the El Paso port of entry seized the 14.65 pounds of cocaine that was hidden in the radiator of a Chevy Silverado entering the U.S. from Mexico.

“Smugglers will use any part of the vehicle they can to hide drugs,” said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Port Director. “Deeply concealed drug loads are a challenge but they are a challenge CBP is ready to face.”

The seizure was made just after 9 a.m. at the Bridge of the Americas international crossing.

CBP officers scanned the vehicle with the Z-Portal x-ray system and identified an anomaly in the appearance of the radiator. The radiator was further examined and CBP personnel found a hidden compartment built into the part that contained five cocaine bundles.

CBP officers arrested the driver of the vehicle, 57-year-old Alberto Flores Dominguez of El Paso, Texas. He was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations agents to face charges associated with the failed smuggling effort.

In addition to the cocaine load area CBP officers seized 160 pounds of marijuana in three additional enforcement actions Monday.