CPB Officers Make 20 Drug Seizures During Busy Weekend

EL PASO, TEXAS -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers performing anti-terror operations at ports of entry in El Paso, west Texas, and New Mexico seized almost 1,500 pounds of illegal drugs this weekend. CBP officers also stopped numerous illegal immigration attempts, captured wanted fugitives, and prevented agriculture and animal food smuggling attempts during the three-day period. CBP officers working at El Paso area ports of entry confiscated 1,375 pounds of marijuana in 17 different seizures this weekend. They also nabbed 101.5 pounds of cocaine in three different seizures. Ten of the 20 weekend drug busts occurred on Saturday. The drug seizure activity was about double what we typically see in any three day period, said Luis Garcia, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operation in El Paso. Significant enforcement activity in other areas was also heavy, keeping CBP officers busy and generating slightly longer than normal border crossing times. The seizure activity shows that the threat remains high for drugs, illegal immigration and other violations at area ports. CBP officers identified 66 immigration violations at El Paso area ports during the three-day period. CBP officers identified 18 intended immigrant cases (people with legitimate entry documents intending to live/work illegally in the U.S.), 18 false claims for U.S. citizenship, 21 imposters (people using a legitimate document not assigned to the person), seven people attempting to enter the U.S. with counterfeit or fraudulent entry documents and two attempts to enter without inspection. Area CBP officers made 14 food, agricultural and animal seizures this weekend, resulting in $2,050 in penalties being assessed. Prohibited items which were seized this weekend included pork, bologna, ham, chorizo, fresh eggs, quinces, guavas, apples, peaches, pomegranates, live plants, a turtle and a bird. The interception of these prohibited items are an important element in preventing the introduction of pests and disease that pose a risk to U.S. agriculture interests. CBP officers working at area crossings nabbed a total of nine wanted people this weekend. CBP officers working at El Paso area ports have apprehended more than 900 fugitives since October 1, 2005, the beginning of the fiscal year. In 2005, CBP officers apprehended in excess of 1,200 wanted people while performing intensive anti-terror inspections at area ports of entry. Anti-terror is the primary mission of CBP however thorough inspections at border ports of entry continue to generate impressive enforcement activity in all areas.