EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers in El Paso seized just under a half pound of fentanyl over the weekend and arrested two people in what they called a failed smuggling attempt using body cavities.
CBP officers made the seizure and arrests just after midnight Sunday, Nov. 17, at the Bridge of the Americas in South-Central El Paso.
CBP officers at Bridge of Americas seized nearly a half pound of fentanyl that was concealed in body cavities of two alleged smugglers. Courtesy of CBP
According to CBP, a 33-year-old man U.S. citizen and a 47-year-old woman U.S. citizen traveling together entered the country through the pedestrian lanes.
CBP officers working at the primary inspection area selected the pair for additional scrutiny. A CBP-drug sniffing dog alerted to the presence of narcotics during a secondary exam, CBP said.
During the inspection process, the woman removed a bundle of fentanyl that had been concealed within her vaginal cavity, CBP said. The package weighed 3.1 ounces.
A package of fentanyl was removed from the rectal cavity of the male traveler, CBP said. That package weighed 4.2 ounces.
Both travelers were arrested and turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations. CBP said. Federal prosecution was accepted on the pair.
In addition to this seizure, CBP officers working in the El Paso area recorded multiple enforcement actions since Saturday. They seized 103 pounds of methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana, the agency said. They also confiscated more than 3,500 units of prescription medications as well as several veterinary medications.
CBP officers also recorded four National Crime Information Center fugitive arrests and intercepted prohibited food products arriving from Mexico.
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