U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers working at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso made a pair of large drug seizures Wednesday.
CBP officials say, in both cases, the drivers of the drug-filled cars were 17-year-old males.
According to officials, the first seizure was made just after 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 12th, when a 2003 Ford Explorer entered the port from Mexico.
“The CBP officer at the primary inspection booth selected the vehicle for a secondary exam, that’s when CBP officers discovered bundles hidden within the rear seat cushions of the car,” officials said.
Officers removed a total of seven bundles, that later tested positive for cocaine. The total weight was 18.55 pounds.
The second seizure was made at approximately 1:30 p.m. when a 2005 Honda Element entered the port from Mexico.
A CBP officer at the primary inspection booth examined the vehicle and found numerous bundles in the spare tire well of the car. As CBP officers continued the exam, they found more bundles in the engine compartment.
In total, CBP officers removed 80 marijuana-filled bundles from the car with a combined weight of 82 pounds.
“Drug organizations sometimes use juveniles to smuggle contraband. They will falsely tell these young people that there is no risk because if they get caught nothing will happen,” said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operation Hector Mancha.
“I assure there will always be some form of consequence. In this case both were turned over to our Texas Department of Public Safety law enforcement partners for prosecution as adults in the state of Texas.”
Both drivers were turned over to Texas DPS for prosecution.
