El Paso, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Santa Teresa port of entry discovered 254 pounds of marijuana in one seizure Wednesday. The estimated street value of the seized contraband is $203,200.
“Smugglers went to a lot of effort to conceal this drug load,” said Jesse Proctor, acting CBP Santa Teresa Port Director. “The multiple layers of enforcement CBP employs led to this seizure.”
The seizure was made just before 8 a.m. yesterday when 2001 Dodge 2500 work truck entered the port from Mexico. A CBP officer at the primary inspection booth noted a number of issues during the initial conversation with the driver of the truck. The CBP officer used a “Buster” density meter on the vehicle and received high readings consistent with hidden contraband.
CBP officers moved the vehicle to the secondary inspection area to continue their exam. A CBP officer drilled into the bottom of the bed of the truck and removed a green substance that tested positive for marijuana. CBP officers x-rayed the vehicle and spotted anomalies in the appearance of the bed of the truck. The area was opened revealing two thin metal compartments containing 159 plastic-wrapped bundles of marijuana.
CBP officer arrested the driver of the truck. He is identified as 31-year-old Jorge A. Macias of El Paso, Texas. He was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt.
The seizure was one several enforcement actions at the Santa Teresa port Wednesday. CBP officers also seized a smaller load of marijuana, one agriculture seizure and five illegal export violations.
While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.