SIERRA BLANCA, Texas – Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Sierra Blanca Traffic Checkpoint on I-10, 85 miles east of El Paso, arrested a United States citizen from El Paso on Tuesday who was attempting to smuggle methamphetamine.
After conducting an initial immigration inspection, agents referred the female driver to secondary inspection for a non-intrusive x-ray scan of the vehicle. The scan revealed packages concealed within the vehicle. After investigating further, agents discovered 13 vacuum sealed packages hidden behind the vehicle’s radio system. The packages contained 12.5 pounds of methamphetamine, valued at $401,280.
The female driver, narcotics and vehicle were turned over to Homeland Security Investigation in El Paso, Texas for further investigation.
Big Bend Sector Chief Jesse Shaw reflected on this latest enforcement action saying, “it highlights the importance of technology for U.S. Border Patrol agents who work around-the-clock at immigration checkpoints and along the southwest border to combat smuggling activity, and help secure our nation’s borders.”