EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized over 35 pounds of cocaine Tuesday evening at the Bridge of the Americas port of entry.
The seizure happened just after 7 p.m. when a 74-year-old U.S. citizen entered the border driving a mini-van from Mexico, a release said.
A CBP officer noticed three large plastic containers in a storage compartment and requested a canine team to screen the vehicle.
According to a release, the canine alerted CBP officers and after further inspection, they discovered approximately 35 pounds of cocaine hidden within the containers.
Related content
- Replica grenade among weapons, ammo seized en route to Mexico
- Border officers seize batch of thermometers, not FDA-approved
- CBP officers arrest teenager with 15 pounds of meth in Cadillac
- Tractor-trailers carrying $8.7 million in meth, pot stopped at South Texas border crossing
- Clorox bottles filled with water seized at Texas border crossing
- Odd little things: CBP airport inspectors keep potentially hazardous items out and grounded
- CBP officers seize fake COVID-19 test kits at LAX
- Mexican man found hiding inside backseat of car at California border crossing
- Dallas mom, teen son stash $3 million worth of meth and heroin in tires of SUV, CBP says
- South Texas border officers intercept nearly $6 million worth of cocaine, meth
- Bologna bust: Border officers seize prohibited pork product
- Liquid cocaine in shampoo bottles seized, CBP says
- Corn pest: Border officers detect snout weevil for first time in agricultural shipment
- CBP: 2nd mom tries to smuggle meth through same California checkpoint
- Woman hid load of meth inside her body, CBP says
- 2 women attempt to smuggle thousands of rounds of ammunition into Mexico, CBP says
- $6 million in liquid meth seized at South Texas border crossings
- ‘Huge’ load of liquid meth seized at El Paso border crossing
- South Texas border officers intercept nearly $6 million worth of cocaine, meth
“The team performed flawlessly and used all parts of our layered enforcement techniques,” CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha said in a release. “I commend the primary officer’s instinct, the canine team, and the officers in the secondary area for stopping these drugs from reaching American communities.”
The case remains under investigation and the drugs were seized, a release said.