ALAMOGORDO, N.M. – El Paso Sector Border Patrol Agents seize more than 60 pounds of methamphetamine in a vehicle traveling on New Mexico Highway 70 on Monday.
A black Nissan sedan with Mexican license plates and two occupants were encountered at the Alamogordo Checkpoint on Highway 70. Border Patrol Agents assigned to the checkpoint discovered 51 separate packages of methamphetamine that were wrapped in brown plastic and concealed throughout the vehicle.
This is one more example of an upward trend of hard narcotics being discovered at U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoints. In Fiscal Year 2021, 802 pounds of methamphetamine was encountered in the El Paso Sector. In total, the El Paso Sector has seen over a 133 percent increase in methamphetamine seizures compared to prior years. Since FY 2022 began in October, 34 pounds of methamphetamine has been seized in the El Paso Sector.
“Border Patrol Agents assigned to immigration checkpoint operations have the vital responsibility of interdicting persons who have entered our country illegally attempting to egress away from the border area further into the United States.” said El Paso Sector Border Patrol Chief Gloria I. Chavez. “While exercising this authority, our Border Patrol Agents regularly seize narcotics quickly disrupting the illicit activity by Transnational Criminal Organizations operating in our West Texas and New Mexico region.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635-2509.