Times staff report
Article Launched: 03/30/2007 03:03:27 PM MDT
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers performing anti-terror inspections at the Bridge of the Americas port of entry in El Paso seized 4,723 pounds of marijuana from one commercial truck and an additional 430 pounds of the drug in a second commercial vehicle Thursday. The last time CBP officers in El Paso made a larger drug bust occurred almost two years ago when a 6,182-pound marijuana seizure was made at the Ysleta commercial facility.
The seizures made Thursday were the highlights of a week in which CBP officers working at border ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas and New Mexico seized 12,040 pounds of marijuana in 49 seizures, 9.7 pounds of cocaine in one seizure, and a personal use quantity of methamphetamine in one additional seizure.
A false wall in a trailer hides the marijuana discovered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers Thursday afternoon. (Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
"Last year we averaged about 2,500 pounds of seized marijuana per week at our area ports," said Luis Garcia, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations in El Paso. "What we are seeing now is the direct result of the hard work and dedication to mission
being exhibited by the CBP workforce. I could not be any prouder of the men and women of CBP working in the El Paso area."
The 4,723-pound seizure was made at 5:45 p.m. Thursday at the Bridge of the Americas cargo facility when a commercial truck hauling an empty container arrived from Mexico. CBP officers performing an inspection detected a discrepancy in the interior and exterior length of the trailer. A gamma ray scan of the trailer indicated a false compartment in the front of the trailer. CBP drug sniffing dog "Sammy" searched the trailer and alerted to the front of the unit. CBP officers removed a false front wall behind which they discovered 262 bundles of marijuana in a three-foot deep compartment. The driver of the truck, a 40-year-old Juarez man was enrolled in the FAST program. He was removed from the FAST program and was transported to the El Paso immigration detention center pending immigration removal proceedings.
The 430-pound seizure was made at 6:05 p.m. Thursday at the Bridge of the Americas cargo facility when a commercial truck hauling an empty flatbed trailer arrived from Mexico. CBP officers selected the rig for a gamma ray scan that showed a dense area in the tail end of the trailer. CBP drug sniffing dog "Freedom" searched the trailer and alerted to the floor. CBP officers removed 244 bundles of marijuana from a non-factory compartment in the floor. The driver of the truck, a 39-year-old Juarez man was enrolled in the FAST program. He was removed from the FAST program and was transported to the El Paso immigration detention center pending immigration removal proceedings.
CBP enforcement activity was not limited to drug seizures. CBP officers working at the border ports of entry in El Paso, west Texas and New Mexico recorded 159 immigration violations during the last seven days. During the week, CBP officers identified a total of 63 imposters (people using a legitimate document not assigned to the person), 47 intended immigrant cases (people with legitimate entry documents intending to live/work illegally in the U.S.), 20 false claims for U.S. citizenship by non U.S. citizens, 13 people attempting to enter the U.S. with counterfeit or fraudulent entry documents, and another 16 people attempting to enter without inspection.
Area CBP officers made seven agricultural seizures during the week, resulting in $1,850 in penalties being assessed. Prohibited items seized included bologna, chorizo, pork, raw eggs, avocados, apples, potatoes, mangos, and guavas. Dozens of other prohibited agricultural items were abandoned at border ports during the inspection process. The interception of these prohibited items are an important element in preventing the introduction of pests and disease that pose a risk to the U.S. agriculture industry and the nations natural resources. CBP recommends that members of the traveling public declare all food and produce they are importing from Mexico to avoid penalties and reduce the risk of spreading disease.
CBP officers this week also assessed $6,825 in penalties for 12 vehicle export violations, seized smuggled ammunition, confiscated two live birds and eight counterfeit $20 bills. Anti-terrorism remains the primary mission of CBP. The intensive inspection process associated with the anti-terror mission continues to yield impressive enforcement numbers in all categories.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers remove packs of marijuana they discovered in a flat-bed trailer with a false bottom. (Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_5558539
4,700 pounds of pot seized at port of entry (3:08 p.m.)
