U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 139.5 kilograms of narcotics hidden in a pickup truck at the Paso de Norte Port of Entry on Feb. 28.
The seizure is significant due to the large quantity and variety of drugs involved. Officers discovered the narcotics after a male Mexican national driving a white, 2016 Dodge Ram with Mexican license plates applied for admission into the United States.
A scan using nonintrusive inspection technology revealed anomalies in the vehicle, prompting further investigation. A trained canine alerted officers to the presence of narcotics, leading to the discovery of 122 bundles: 107 bundles of cocaine (122.84 kilograms), 13 bundles of fentanyl (14.86 kilograms), and two bundles of methamphetamine (1.84 kilograms).
“This a significant seizure of narcotics by our CBP officers at the port of entry. They have prevented a major narcotics load from entering the United States and causing harm to American citizens,” said Ray Provencio, port director, Port of El Paso. “My congratulations to my officers for a job well done.”
The driver was arrested, and federal prosecution has been accepted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The vehicle and narcotics were seized by CBP officers, while Homeland Security Investigations special agents will continue investigating as part of the Homeland Security Task Force.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection describes itself as America's frontline law enforcement organization with more than 67,000 personnel working across land, air, and sea to enforce safe travel and trade.
