EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized fentanyl and methamphetamine hidden in a bicycle on Wednesday afternoon, April 9, at the Paso Del Norte international crossing.
The incident occurred just after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, when a 32-year-old man arrived from Mexico, CBP said in a news release.
CBP said that the primary officer selected the man for a secondary exam after noticing anomalies in the appearance of his bicycle.
A CBP drug sniffing dog searched the bike and alerted to the presence of narcotics. CBP officers then scanned the bicycle with multiple “nonintrusive systems” and spotted bundles in the frame of the bike, according to the news release.
CBP said the bicycle was dismantled, and officers removed two bundles from a hollow space in the frame. One contained 0.18 pounds of fentanyl while the other contained 0.40 pounds of methamphetamine.
The cyclist was arrested, and he was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for prosecution and will face importation of a controlled substance charges, according to the news release.
“History has shown that smugglers will employ any and all means in their efforts to introduce dangerous contraband into the United States,” said CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio. “The combination of CBP officers’ experience, high-technology tools, and canine support all played a role in stopping this drug load.”
Read: Read More