CBP Border Patrol Nets Over $600,000 Thousand During Cocaine Seizure

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — CBP Border Patrol agents in Las Cruces, N.M. seized more than $600,000 worth of cocaine that was being smuggled into the United States in a hidden compartment Friday afternoon. Agents manning a traffic checkpoint on Interstate 25 discovered the drugs.

Friday afternoon at 12:30 p.m., Border Patrol agents working at the I-25 Border Patrol checkpoint encountered a green Ford Focus driven by a 40-year-old male from Mexico. While inspecting the individual’s documents, agents noticed that the subject appeared nervous and also detected an unusual odor emanating from the vehicle. Agents referred the vehicle for further screening and for a K-9 inspection.

The detector dog quickly alerted to the front of the vehicle. Upon inspection of the Focus agents found a hidden compartment inside the dashboard of the vehicle. Inside the compartment agents found eight bundles wrapped in silver metallic tape. The powdery white substance inside was determined to be cocaine. More than 19 pounds of cocaine was seized, valued at $611,200. The subject, cocaine and vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Since October 1, 2005, Border Patrol agents in Las Cruces have seized a total of $20,762,038 worth of illegal narcotics in 182 separate seizures.