U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso, Texas, intercepted 113 grams of fentanyl on May 7. The narcotics were found hidden in the vaginal cavity of a 40-year-old female U.S. citizen attempting to cross the border.
“This is an exceptionally dangerous practice and could be lethal if the packaging were to fail during transport,” stated CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio. “It is best to not engage in smuggling activity, but especially this form. It is risky on many levels.”
The incident unfolded shortly before 3 a.m., when CBP officers selected the woman for a secondary examination. During this inspection, she admitted to concealing a foreign object within her body.
Medical professionals at a nearby facility confirmed the presence of an internally concealed package, which was safely removed without further complications. Following this procedure, no additional anomalies were detected.
Subsequently, the woman was returned to the port of entry where she was arrested and handed over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for federal charges related to the smuggling attempt.
CBP describes itself as America's frontline and emphasizes its role as the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. With over 65,000 personnel, CBP works to protect America by land, air, and sea while facilitating lawful travel and trade.
