U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Ysleta international port of entry seized 42 pounds of cocaine on July 20. The drugs were found in a vehicle driven by a 21-year-old female U.S. citizen.
“Homeland security is our primary mission; but the tools and techniques we employ often help us stop drug smugglers in their tracks,” said CBP Ysleta Port Director Arnie Gomez. “This is yet another example of how the work performed by CBP helps keep our communities safe.”
The incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. when a 2001 Ford Explorer with a single female occupant arrived from Mexico. CBP officers selected the vehicle for further examination after a low energy portal scan detected irregularities in the SUV's appearance.
A CBP drug-sniffing dog searched the vehicle and alerted officers to narcotics. Officers then discovered a hidden compartment below the rear seat containing 10 bundles, which tested positive for cocaine.
The driver was arrested and handed over to Homeland Security Investigations to face charges related to the smuggling attempt.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The agency employs over 65,000 men and women who protect America on land, air, and sea while facilitating safe, lawful travel and trade.
