CBP finds $1.6 million meth load in tires at El Paso port of entry
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers working at the El Paso port of entry made a 50.8 pound methamphetamine seizure this weekend, said CBP.
It stated a 46-year-old female U.S. citizen from Dallas was taken into custody. The estimated street value of the seized contraband is $1,625,600.
The seizure was made just before 10 a.m. April 9 when a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer with a lone driver arrived at the Paso Del Norte international crossing from Mexico. A CBP officer at the primary inspection station selected the vehicle for a secondary exam.
“Smugglers spared no expense in their efforts to cross this sizeable drug load,” said Beverly Good, CBP El Paso Port Director. “CBP’s layered enforcement was instrumental in keeping this shipment from making it to its intended destination.”
CBP drug sniffing dog “Tiran” searched the car and alerted to narcotics in the rear area of the vehicle. CBP officers scanned the vehicle with the Z-portal x-ray system and spotted anomalies in the appearance of the rear tires.
CBP officers continued their exam and removed the tires. They discovered custom manufactured metal collars bolted to the rims of the wheels. The metal collars were cut open revealing a dozen methamphetamine-filled bundles.
CBP officers arrested the driver, Matilda Perez of Dallas, Texas. She was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement HSI special agents to face charges associated with the failed drug smuggling attempt.
While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.
