Sanjeev “Sonny” Bhagowalia Assistant Commissioner | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Area Port of San Luis have seized over 175 pounds of narcotics during a smuggling attempt. The incident occurred on Saturday, September 28, at around 10:30 p.m., involving an 18-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a Chevrolet SUV from Mexico to the San Luis I Port of Entry.
The teenager was referred for further examination. In the secondary inspection area, non-intrusive technology revealed anomalies throughout the vehicle, and a canine unit alerted officers to the presence of narcotics.
Upon conducting a thorough search, CBP officers discovered 140 packages of narcotics hidden within various parts of the vehicle, including its doors, quarter panels, and floor. The haul included over seven pounds of white fentanyl powder in three packages, nearly 61 pounds of blue fentanyl pills in 27 packages, and approximately 107.5 pounds of methamphetamine in 110 packages.
The street value of these narcotics is estimated at $1,000,666.
Chris Leon, Area Port Director for San Luis, commented on the method used by traffickers: “Unfortunately, this is a method of smuggling that we continue to encounter with narcotic traffickers utilizing teenagers to smuggle dangerous drugs.” He urged young people to consider their choices carefully and highlighted that there are consequences for such actions.
Following the seizure of both drugs and vehicle, the teenager was handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection describes itself as America's frontline: "the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency." With over 65,000 personnel, CBP aims to protect America across various domains while facilitating lawful travel and trade.
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