November 13, 09

NEWS / CBP Officers Find Marijuana Strapped to Legs of El Paso Visitor

El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso port of entry made a 6.51 pound marijuana seizure yesterday evening. The drugs were strapped to the body of a female border crosser.


The seizure was one of 15 drug busts CBP officers made this week including 14 marijuana seizures resulting in the confiscation of 1,037.09 pounds and one methamphetamine seizure of 1.09 grams.

“Smuggling organizations will use every imaginable concealment method to try to get the narcotics through our international ports of entry,” said CBP El Paso Port Director William “Bill” Molaski. “This type of narcotic concealment illustrates why CBP officers have to be constantly vigilant in conducting their inspections.”


The Thursday marijuana seizure was made in the vehicular inspection area of the Paso Del Norte bridge at 8:55 p.m. A CBP officer at the primary inspection booth noticed inconsistencies in the statements from the driver of a 1990 Pontiac Bonneville. The driver and vehicle were escorted to a secondary inspection area for an intensive inspection.


CBP officers discovered six marijuana-filled packages strapped to the driver’s legs concealed underneath her clothing. The contents of the bundles tested positive for marijuana.


CBP officers arrested a 27-year-old female United States citizen of El Paso, Texas. She was turned over to the El Paso Police Department for prosecution. The subject was booked into the El Paso County Jail and is currently being held on the drug charge and six outstanding local traffic warrants.


While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/11132009_4.xml