Ray Provencio, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) port director, has stated that Border Patrol officers are actively working to combat the fentanyl crisis. These comments were made in a press release from CBP, which also detailed a recent fentanyl seizure at the Southern border.
"CBP is on the front line of America's fight against fentanyl and other dangerous drugs," said Provencio, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "As the largest law enforcement agency in the United States, CBP is uniquely positioned to detect, identify, and seize illicit drugs from entering the country and preventing these deadly substances from entering our communities and taking lives."
The press release from CBP reported three separate instances of fentanyl seizures at the Paso Del Norte Border Crossing within a 48-hour span. Officers reportedly confiscated "37 pounds of fentanyl". The first seizure involved a 20-year-old U.S. citizen who was intercepted on February 5 as she entered from Mexico by car. According to the release, further inspection using both a canine unit and X-ray technology revealed that over 36 pounds of fentanyl packages were hidden in the vehicle's spare tire.
The release went on to detail subsequent seizures on February 6 involving two U.S. citizens arriving on foot from Mexico, aged 45 and 26. Both individuals were subjected to secondary inspections and found with fentanyl packages weighing 0.29 pounds and 0.16 pounds respectively.
A fact sheet from the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration explains that fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. While there is a legal pharmaceutical market for this drug, it has also been produced illegally and has significantly contributed to drug overdoses.
According to its website, CBP is a global law enforcement agency with over 60,000 employees. Its responsibilities include preventing terrorism and promoting trade and travel by merging immigration, customs, agricultural protection, and border security into one comprehensive effort.
