At the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered illicit substances hidden in a bicycle during a routine inspection. The incident took place on Wednesday, just after 3 p.m., when a 32-year-old male U.S. citizen was selected for a secondary inspection. Using canine support and advanced technology, CBP officers found fentanyl and methamphetamine concealed within the bike's frame.
According to a CBP press release, it began when the individual, arriving from Mexico, was selected for further inspection after a primary CBP officer observed something unusual about the bicycle he was using. A CBP drug-sniffing dog then alerted officers to the potential presence of narcotics, prompting the use of multiple nonintrusive inspection systems to examine the bike more closely. The inspection revealed bundles hidden within the bicycle frame, a location not typically scrutinized for contraband. This led to the discovery of yet another inventive, though ultimately unsuccessful, smuggling attempt.
Upon disassembling the bicycle, CBP officers discovered two hidden bundles: one contained 0.18 pounds of fentanyl, and the other held 0.40 pounds of methamphetamine. "History has shown that smugglers will employ any and all means in their efforts to introduce dangerous contraband into the United States," said CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio in the press release.
The man was arrested at the scene and has been transferred to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for prosecution on charges related to the importation of a controlled substance.
