U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Area Port of San Luis have been actively involved in enforcement activities, successfully intercepting two attempts to smuggle hard narcotics.
The first incident took place on January 29, when CBP officers stopped a 23-year-old male driving a Chevrolet sedan entering from Mexico. The driver, a U.S. citizen, was directed for further inspection. In the secondary area, non-intrusive technology and a CBP canine indicated anomalies in the vehicle's floor. Officers found twelve packages containing over 117 pounds of methamphetamine concealed beneath the carpet.
The second seizure occurred on January 30 with a 42-year-old male driving a Ford truck also applying for entry from Mexico. A Mexican citizen and Legal Permanent Resident, he was referred for additional examination after a CBP canine detected narcotics. Non-intrusive technology revealed irregularities within a speaker box in the truck's rear. Officers discovered and extracted 25 packages containing approximately 69 pounds of cocaine.
The combined street value of the seized narcotics is estimated at $805,359.
Chris Leon, Area Port Director for San Luis, stated: “Our enforcement posture and multiple layers of inspection attributed to these significant seizures and ultimately prevented these dangerous drugs from entering our communities.”
Both drivers were handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations following the seizure of drugs and vehicles.
Federal law permits charging individuals by complaint without inferring guilt; individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by competent evidence presented to a jury.
CBP's Office of Field Operations leads anti-terrorism efforts at national ports while facilitating legitimate trade and travel. Their duties include narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration laws, protecting food supply chains from pests and diseases, among others.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection stands as America's largest law enforcement organization dedicated to safeguarding national security through various innovative measures.
