United States Border Patrol agents were busy this weekend keeping narcotics from entering the country. The activity was centered at various ports of entry, where agents discovered over 800 pounds of drugs.
"Over the weekend, USBP agents seized 843 lbs. of narcotics between the ports of entry: - 792 lbs of Marijuana - 36 lbs of Meth - 9 lbs of Heroin - 6 lbs of Fentanyl DYK: 42% of pills tested for fentanyl contained at least 2 mg of fentanyl, considered a potentially lethal dose.", said Jason Owens.
Recently, the enforcement efforts have yielded significant results. The news comes after it was revealed that 354 pounds of methamphetamine were discovered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Paso Del Norte international crossing seized 354 pounds, according to a new release. The drugs were concealed in the bed of a pick-up truck that entered the U.S. from Mexico.
A high-ranking official commented on this remarkable seizure. "This is an enormous seizure and demonstrates the need for CBP officers to remain vigilant at all times," said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operation Hector Mancha. "CBP officers utilized a variety of tools to identify and stop this smuggler."
The details surrounding the operation illustrate its complexity. CBP officers were conducting a pre-primary enforcement operation near the inspection booths when they hit on a Dodge Ram truck, according to the media release. The vehicle was being operated by a 31-year-old Mexican woman and a CBP drug sniffing dog picked up an odor from the bed of the pick-up. The driver was then ordered to a secondary exam area for further examination.
Advanced technology played an integral part in detecting illegal substances. According to the news release, officers discovered anomalies within the vehicle by utilizing a Z-Portal x-ray scan. Upon inspection, officers found 161 foil-wrapped bundles tucked away underneath the truck bed liner, which tested positive for methamphetamine.
Legal action quickly followed after the drug detection. Officers arrested the driver and handed her to the Texas Department of Public Safety to face charges in connection with the failed smuggling attempt, according to the release.
The recent seizures contribute to an impressive total for this year. This year customs agents across the country have seized over $53 million, along with 27,000 pounds fentanyl, 140,000 pounds of methamphetamine, 81,100 pounds of cocaine, 150,000 pounds of marijuana, according to seizure statistics on the CBP website.
