U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers working at ports of entry in El Paso and Santa Teresa continue to have significant seizures, including the discovery of a 16-year-old in possession of methamphetamine.
According to officers, on the evening of April 30, the teenage U.S. citizen walked into the Ysleta Port of Entry pedestrian area from Mexico carrying a large portable speaker.
A CBP Officer interviewed the minor, found inconsistencies in her story and referred her for a more intensive examination. It was during the examination the CBP officers noted anomalies in the speaker and called for a drug sniffing dog. The CBP canine agent searched the speaker and found drugs.
The speaker box was opened and officers located three bundles of methamphetamine weighing approximately 2.4 pounds. The minor was turned over to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to face charges.
“The vigilance, training, and experience of our CBP Officers is key to the continuous drug seizures we are experiencing,” said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha. “We are committed to serving and protecting the local community and our country from smuggling attempts.”
The same day, at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry, a 24-year-old U.S. citizen male was discovered to be transporting 4.7 pounds of cocaine hidden in the gas tank area of his vehicle.
The subject was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations to face federal charges.
In addition to the drug seizures, on April 29, CBP Officers at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry in New Mexico seized over $23,000 of unreported U.S. currency.
“While it is not illegal to transport over $10,000 in currency, it is illegal if not reported and subject to seizure,” CBP officials added.
