A truck concealing 354 pounds of methamphetamine was recently seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) officers at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso. The large drug bust occurred on November 18, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement officials in controlling the cross-border drug trade.
"Outstanding work to the @CBP officers at the Paso Del Norte international crossing who seized 354 pounds of methamphetamine on Nov. 18. The drugs were concealed in the bed of a pick-up truck!", said Diane J. Sabatino.
Providing further details on this massive operation, CBP El Paso Director of Field Operation Hector Mancha shared some insight. "This is an enormous seizure and demonstrates the need for CBP officers to remain vigilant at all times," said Mancha. "CBP officers utilized a variety of tools to identify and stop this smuggler."
Describing how this particular incident unfolded, a news release provided a timeline. According to a news release, the incident occurred on Nov. 18. Just before 4 p.m., a 31-year-old Mexican woman driving a Dodge Ram truck was spotted by CBP officers conducting a pre-primary enforcement operation just ahead of the inspection booths. After a CBP canine found a scent in the bed of the truck, her vehicle was escorted to the secondary exam area.
The news release also elaborated upon how law enforcement detected illegal substances inside this vehicle. The news release stated that CBP officers utilized a Z-Portal x-ray scan on the vehicle and detected abnormalities in the frame of the truck. A subsequent physical examination revealed 161 foil-wrapped bundles enclosed underneath the truck bed liner. CBP agents tested the contents of these packages and confirmed they contained methamphetamine.
Moving forward with legal proceedings following this event, there are significant charges to be faced by the driver. According to the news release, the driver was apprehended and handed over to Texas Department of Public Safety officials to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt as the investigation is ongoing.
Lastly, giving a broader context of drug seizures nationwide, statistics from CBP's official website were mentioned in the news release. This fiscal year, customs agents across the country have seized 27,000 pounds of fentanyl, 140,000 pounds of methamphetamine, 81,100 pounds of cocaine, 150,000 pounds of marijuana according to drug seizure statistics from the CBP website.
