CBP officers seize drugs, weapons, capture criminals in operation at ports of entry
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at El Paso area ports of entry made several drug seizures last week.
CBP made 24 drug seizures, apprehended 25 wanted people, seized weapons and ammunition, and recorded multiple agriculture violations.
On April 11, CBP officers working at the Bridge of the Americas international crossing seized 153 grams of fentanyl after a 45-year-old American woman entered the U.S. from Mexico through the pedestrian lanes.
CBP conducted a secondary exam during which a CBP drug sniffing dog was alerted to the presence of drugs. The fentanyl-filled bundle was internally concealed and recovered.
On April 13, CBP officers working at the Paso Del Norte international crossing seized 22.8 pounds of methamphetamine.
CBP officers discovered bundles within the quarter panels of a Nissan Altima being driven by a 26-year-old Mexican woman.
A CBP drug sniffing dog alerted to the presence of drugs and an Z-Portal (x-ray) scan confirmed the presence of packages in the vehicle.
CBP officers seized two handguns and almost 3,800 rounds of ammunition during the week.
The largest seizure occurred on April 12, when CBP officers performing outbound operations at the Bridge of the Americas seized 3,650 rounds of ammunition concealed in the trunk of a vehicle being driven by a 39-year-old Mexican woman.
The seizure included 2,000 rounds of .9 mm, 150 rounds of .357, 1,000 rounds of .40 and .22 rounds of ammunition. The driver was returned to Mexico and the investigation is continuing.
CBP officers encountered 25 National Crime Information Center fugitives being sought by law enforcement.
The most significant arrest occurred on April 8 at the Ysleta port of entry when CBP officers encountered 21-year-old U.S. citizen Maximiliano Sandoval Muniz entering the U.S. from Mexico through the pedestrian lanes.
A system query confirmed that he was being sought by the Fort Worth police department on a homicide charge.
He was taken into custody and turned over to the El Paso police department to face extradition.
An additional 24 NCIC arrests were made for crimes such as assault, alien smuggling, drug charges money laundering and DUI.
CBP agriculture specialist also administered $3,375 in penalties against 17 people who were encountered transporting prohibited agriculture products into the U.S. from Mexico.
Seized items included pork, chorizo, eggs, tomatoes, peppers, mangos, apples, avocados, and live plants.
“Homeland security is our principal mission but the work being performed at area ports results in significant enforcement activity touching upon a wide variety of violations,” said CBP El Paso Director Field Operations Hector A. Mancha. “The bottom line is that all this work is making our community safer.”
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