EL PASO, Texas -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers working at the El Paso port of entry seized 10.25 pounds of cocaine Tuesday. The estimated street value of the seized contraband is $328,000.
“CBP personnel used a variety of tools and techniques to identify this drug load,” said Beverly Good, CBP El Paso Port Director. “The various layers of enforcement we employ help CBP officers identify and stop contraband at the border.”
Cocaine filled bundles in dashboard of vehicle
The cocaine seizure was made just after 6:00 a.m. when a 2006 Saturn Ion entered the Paso Del Norte port of entry from Mexico. A CBP officer working at the primary inspection booth noted a number of anomalies in the appearance of the vehicle. CBP drug sniffing dog “Chip” also alerted to the car at the primary inspection booth while he was performing a sweep of arriving vehicles.
CBP officers scanned the vehicle with the Z-Portal x-ray system and spotted bundles in the dashboard and rear seats of the car. CBP officers removed a total of eight cocaine filled bundles weighing 10.25 pounds from the engine compartment.
CBP officers arrested the driver, 27-year-old Gustavo Antonio Jacquez of El Paso, Texas. He was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement HSI agents to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt.
In addition to the cocaine bust CBP officers working at El Paso area port also made three marijuana seizures totaling 67 pounds Tuesday. They also apprehend three NCIC fugitives, seized contraband agriculture items, and seized items that violated intellectual property rights laws.