EL PASO, Texas -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers working at the El Paso port of entry seized approximately 15.55 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.5 pounds of heroin, and 510 oxycodone pills in two seizures Monday.
“Drug trafficking organizations continue their attempts to smuggle narcotics through ports of entry and into our communities,” said CBP El Paso Port Director Beverly Good. “CBP officers were vigilant and used their training to thwart both of these attempts.”
The first seizure occurred May 18, at the Paso Del Norte border crossing when a 24-year-old U.S. citizen male attempted to smuggle drugs that were strapped to his body. The man arrived as a pedestrian from Mexico shortly after 6 p.m. CBP officers selected him for a secondary inspection. During this inspection, CBP officers discovered 1.5 pounds of heroin, .05 pounds of methamphetamine, and 510 oxycodone pills in the subject’s waistline and pockets.
The second seizure occurred later the same day at the Bridge of the Americas at 11 p.m. Two U.S. citizens, a 31-year-old male and a 34-year-old female arrived from Mexico in a 2020 Toyota Camry. CBP officers selected the duo for secondary inspection. An X-ray examination of the vehicle revealed several anomalies in one of the rear tires. CBP officers extracted 15.5 pounds of methamphetamine from the tire.
All subjects were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations to face charges for the failed smuggling attempts.