EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Paso Del Norte crossing intercepted 37 pounds of fentanyl in three separate failed smuggling attempts in less than 48 hours, U.S. CBP announced in a news release Wednesday, Feb. 7.
“CBP is on the front line of America’s fight against fentanyl and other dangerous drugs,” said CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio. “As the largest law enforcement agency in the United States, CBP is uniquely positioned to detect, identify, and seize illicit drugs from entering the country and preventing these deadly substances from entering our communities and taking lives.”
First incident – Monday, Feb. 5.
A 20-year-old female, U.S. citizen, arrived from Mexico via the vehicle lines when was referred for a secondary inspection of the vehicle, which included screening by a CBP canine and pat down search, according to CBP.
CBP says that after conducting a thorough examination, CBP officers located multiple fentanyl filled packages with a combined weight of 36.64 pounds, concealed within the vehicle’s spare tire.
Second incident – Tuesday, Feb. 6.
A 45-year-old female, U.S. citizen, arrived from Mexico via de pedestrian lanes when she was referred for a secondary inspection, which included screening by a CBP canine and pat down search, according to CBP.
CBP says officers located two fentanyl filled bundles with a combined weight of 0.29 pounds, concealed within the woman’s vaginal cavity.
Third incident – Tuesday, Feb. 6.
A 26-year-old female, U.S. citizen, arrived from Mexico via the pedestrian lanes when she was referred for a secondary inspection, which included a pat down search, according to CBP.
CBP says officers located one fentanyl filled bundle with a weight of 0.16 pounds, concealed within the woman’s vaginal cavity.
The individuals involved were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations and/or Texas Department of Public Safety agents for prosecution, according to CBP.
CBP issued the following statement as part of the news release:
“Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous drug, and one that we did not see ten years ago. It is potent in even very small amounts. CBP’s combination of interdiction and intelligence capabilities, complemented by its border search authorities, scientific services, non-intrusive inspection equipment, and canine detection teams, places it at the forefront of the U.S. government’s efforts to combat fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.”
“CBP and DHS have significantly invested in stopping dangerous drugs from entering the country, seizing more fentanyl, and arresting more criminals for fentanyl-related crimes in the last two years than in the previous five years combined. We continue to optimize our intelligence and field operations to stop these deadly substances from reaching American communities.”
“The CBP Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs drives a whole-of-CBP approach that feeds into the work taking place all across DHS as we lead interagency efforts against illicit synthetic narcotics.”
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