U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Ysleta international port of entry intercepted a hefty drug haul, gripping 42 pounds of cocaine on July 20. The narcotics were stashed in a vehicle headed by a 21-year-old female U.S. citizen, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.
"Homeland security is our primary mission; but the tools and techniques we employ often help us stop drug smugglers in their tracks," CBP Ysleta Port Director Arnie Gomez said in a statement obtained by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection newsroom. With a single female occupant, the Ford Explorer made its way from Mexico and was flagged after a routine scan exposed discrepancies in the SUV's structure.
A secondary examination led the U.S. Customs and Border Protection drug-sniffing dog to a hidden compartment below the rear seat. Alerted by the dog, officers unearthed 10 bundles contained within the fabricated space. Tests confirmed the bundles teemed with cocaine.
"This is yet another example of how the work performed by CBP helps keep our communities safe," indicated by the relief felt in Gomez's declaration, as stated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Following the find, officers arrested the driver. Handcuffed, she was delivered to Homeland Security Investigations to face the music for her part in the botched smuggling venture.
