Authorities Seized 271 lbs. of Illegal Drugs at New Mexico Border at Ysleta Port of Entry and at Paso Del Norte Crossing

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Paso Del Norte Border Crossing, intercepted 37 pounds of fentanyl in three separate failed smuggling attempts in less than 48 hours. And in the same El Paso Sector, New Mexico Border Agents at the Ysleta Port of Entry thwarted multiple smuggling attempts in early February.  With four failed smuggling attempts at the Ysleta Port of Entry in El Paso, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized around 225 pounds of narcotics. The seizures included bundles of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana and occurred during inspections on February 6th and February 9th, 2024.

The first Del Norte seizure took place on February 5th, 2024, when a 20-year-old female U.S. citizen arrived from Mexico via the vehicle lanes. The individual was referred for a secondary inspection of the vehicle which included screening by a CBP canine and a non-intrusive (x-ray) inspection. After conducting a thorough examination, CBP officers located multiple fentanyl filled packages with a combined weight of 36.64 pounds, concealed within the vehicle’s spare tire.

The second Del Norte incident took place on February 6th, 2024, when a 45-year-old female, U.S. citizen arrived from Mexico via the pedestrian lanes. The individual was referred for a secondary inspection which included screening by a CBP canine and pat down search. CBP officers located two fentanyl filled bundles with a combined weight of .29 pounds, concealed within the vaginal cavity.

And then a third incident took place a few minutes later at the same entry point, when a 26-year-old female, U.S. citizen arrived from Mexico via the pedestrian lanes. The individual was referred for a secondary inspection which included a pat down search. CBP officers located one fentanyl filled bundle with a weight of .16 pounds, concealed within the vaginal cavity.

The individuals were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations and/or Texas Department of Public Safety agents for prosecution.

Then on the same day at the Ysleta Port of Entry, the first drug seizure took place on February 6th after officers inspected the vehicle of a 44-year-old Mexican citizen; officers found 16.55 pounds of cocaine in the trunk of the woman’s car and confiscated it.

Then, on February 9th, 2024, officers found over 80 pounds of narcotics in the care of a 24-year-old female Mexican citizen. The woman was enrolled in the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) program, which allows for expedited clearance for pre-approved travellers. 

In total, 40.03 pounds of fentanyl and 41.13 pounds of methamphetamine were found in her vehicle. “The SENTRI lane is a trusted traveller program. That said, it is not a free pass. CBP officers will trust but also verify that users are not compromising the trust we have placed upon them,” says CBP Ysleta Port Director Arnie Gomez per reporting by KQRE.

The individuals were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations and/or the New Mexico Department of Public Safety agents for prosecution.

Per a release from CBP, Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous drug, and one that we did not see ten years ago. It is potent in even very small amounts. CBP’s combination of interdiction and intelligence capabilities, complemented by its border search authorities, scientific services, non-intrusive inspection equipment, and canine detection teams, places it at the forefront of the U.S. government’s efforts to combat fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.

CBP and DHS have significantly invested in stopping dangerous drugs from entering the country, seizing more fentanyl, and arresting more criminals for fentanyl-related crimes in the last two years than in the previous five years combined. We continue to optimize our intelligence and field operations to stop these deadly substances from reaching American communities.

The CBP Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs drives a whole-of-CBP approach that feeds into the work taking place all across DHS as we lead interagency efforts against illicit synthetic narcotics.

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