U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Ysleta Port of Entry in El Paso, Texas, reported several seizures of narcotics and undeclared currency during operations conducted in the week of January 18.
The enforcement actions included both northbound and southbound inspections aimed at disrupting smuggling activities. On January 21, CBP’s Mobile Enforcement Team stopped a white 2022 Nissan Pathfinder driven by a male U.S. citizen during a southbound operation. A canine unit trained to detect currency and firearms alerted officers to the vehicle, leading to the discovery and seizure of $38,371 in improperly declared currency. Homeland Security Investigation was notified following the incident.
On January 22, CBP officers from the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team and Mobile Enforcement Team inspected a 2012 Dodge Ram as part of southbound operations. The driver, also a male U.S. citizen, was found with $40,320 in undeclared currency hidden inside his jacket; this money was seized by officers.
Later that day, CBP officers encountered another male U.S. citizen driving a blue 2012 Chevrolet Sonic seeking entry into the United States. After noticing irregularities in the trunk area, officers referred the vehicle for further inspection. A canine unit signaled the presence of narcotics, resulting in the discovery of thirteen bundles of cocaine weighing approximately 15.92 kilograms.
On January 24, CBP officers referred a white 2017 Honda Civic driven by a male Mexican citizen for secondary inspection after an alert for possible narcotics. Non-intrusive scanning revealed anomalies within the vehicle, and a subsequent canine sweep led to the detection of drugs. Officers found twenty-two bundles of cocaine totaling about 25.78 kilograms.
“These significant narcotics and currency seizures indicate attempts by drug trafficking organizations to smuggle drugs north from the U.S.-Mexico border into U.S. communities and then repatriate the cash profits back south to fund criminal organizations in Mexico,” said Port Director Arnoldo Gomez of Ysleta Port of Entry. “By interdicting the flow of narcotics north and intercepting undeclared currency going south, our U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have disrupted both the supply chain and profits of the Mexican Drug Cartels.”
CBP describes itself as America’s frontline agency responsible for border management through its workforce exceeding 67,000 employees who work across land borders, airspace, and maritime domains.
