041514 el paso heroin bust at bridge
Nearly 18 pounds of heroin worth $566,400 was seized at the Paso Del Norte international bridge on April 14, 2014.
“A substantial amount of heroin did not make it to its intended destination,” said Hector Mancha, Customs and Border Protection El Paso Port Director. “While homeland security is our primary mission, keeping dangerous drugs off the streets of our communities makes for a safer nation as well.”
A CBP officer at the primary inspection noted that the driver was nervous during the entry interview and CBP drug sniffing dog “Chip” alerted officers that their may be something in the vehicle while it was at the primary inspection booth.
After scanning the vehicle with an x-ray system, CBP officers found 10 tape-wrapped bundles hidden in a floor compartment. The brown tar-like contents of the bundles tested positive for heroin.
CBP officers arrested the driver of the truck, 21-year-old Herbert Garza of El Paso.
He was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations special agents to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt.
