texas border operations
EL PASO, Texas – On November 17th, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Bridge of the Americas International Crossroads seized just under half a pound of fentanyl. Two people have been arrested in connection with the attempted smuggling.
“Interdiction of fentanyl remains a critical component of CBP’s enforcement mission,” said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Field Operations Director. “Stopping this dangerous product before it enters our communities can save lives.”
The seizure was made shortly after midnight Sunday when a 33-year-old male U.S. citizen and a 47-year-old female U.S. national entered the country together from Mexico through a pedestrian lane. CBP personnel working in the primary inspection area selected the pair for additional scrutiny. A CBP drug detection dog alerted to the presence of drugs during a secondary inspection.
During the examination, the female traveler removed a bundle of fentanyl hidden inside her vaginal cavity. The package weighed 3.1 ounces. One fentanyl packet was removed from the male traveler’s rectal cavity. It weighed 4.2 ounces.
Both travelers were arrested and turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations. Federal charges against the two men were accepted.
In addition to this seizure, CBP officers working in the El Paso area have recorded multiple enforcement operations since Saturday. They seized 103 pounds of methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana. They also seized more than 3,500 units of prescription drugs and several veterinary drugs. CBP officers also arrested four National Crime Information Center fugitives and recorded them intercepting prohibited food items arriving from Mexico.
