El Paso CBP Officers Make Largest Drug Bust In 2 Years

Busy Week Capped With 4,723-Pound Marijuana Load Nabbed Thursday
Friday, March 30, 2007

El Paso, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers performing anti-terror inspections Thursday at the Bridge of the Americas port of entry in El Paso seized 4,723 pounds of marijuana from one commercial truck and an additional 430 pounds of the drug in a second commercial vehicle. The last time CBP officers in El Paso made a larger drug bust occurred almost two years ago when a 6,182-pound marijuana seizure was made at the Ysleta commercial facility.

The seizures made Thursday were the highlights of a week in which CBP officers working at border ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas and New Mexico seized 12,040 pounds of marijuana in 49 seizures, 9.7 pounds of cocaine in one seizure, and a personal use quantity of methamphetamine in one additional seizure.

“Last year we averaged about 2,500 pounds of seized marijuana per week at our area ports,” said Luis Garcia, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations in El Paso. “What we are seeing now is the direct result of the hard work and dedication to mission being exhibited by the CBP workforce. I could not be any prouder of the men and women of CBP working in the El Paso area.”