Border patrol officers successfully intercepted a substantial amount of cocaine at the Presidio port of entry earlier this month. According to a press release by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the incident occurred last Sunday, when officers seized 27 pounds of the drug from a vehicle driven by a 24-year-old U.S. citizen.
The attempted smuggling was thwarted thanks to the diligence of a CBP officers who, using a mix of tools and methods, managed to stop the narcotics from filtering into the United States. CBP Presidio Port Director Benito Reyes Jr. provided insight into the process in a statement: "CBP officers employ multiple tools and techniques to identify and stop drug smugglers," he said, as reported by the CBP official website. "This layered enforcement approach allows CBP to quickly separate legitimate trade and travel from those who attempt to violate the laws of our nation and stop the flow of drugs from entering our nation."
The suspect was driving a 2018 Nissan Rogue, and upon arrival from Mexico, was selected for a secondary examination around 4 p.m. This led to the discovery of multiple bundles concealed in the floorboard area of the vehicle. A CBP K-9 unit and a non-intrusive scan both indicated anomalies in that same area, aiding in the detection of the hidden narcotics.
After a thorough search, CBP officers extracted 10 cocaine-filled bundles from the compartment in the vehicle's floorboard. Subsequently, the driver was arrested and handed over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents. He now faces federal charges related to the failed smuggling attempt.
