CBP Officers Slam Door on Smuggling Attempt in Texas

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

El Paso, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of El Paso working anti-terrorism operations at the Bridge of Americas Cargo facility discovered 1,354 pounds of marijuana concealed in a commercial shipment Tuesday. The significance of the seizure was the concealment method used to smuggle the narcotics. The marijuana was concealed inside of large metal doors.

At about 10:20 a.m. Tuesday a 1992 Chevrolet bob-tale commercial truck arrived at primary inspection. The driver presented entry documents for a commercial shipment of 13 wrought iron doors manufactured in Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico. The CBP primary officer selected the cargo shipment and conveyance for examination. A non-intrusive inspection of the merchandise revealed anomalies in the cargo. An inspection of the conveyance and cargo was conducted with CBP drug sniffing dog "Rabbi" which resulted in the discovery of 1,284 bundles of marijuana.

"The attempt to smuggle more than half a ton of marijuana through an international port of entry shows the bold disregard of the law by these smuggling organizations", said Arthur Gonzales, acting port director, U.S. Customs and Border Protection in El Paso. "CBP will continue to conduct enforcement operations, seize narcotics, and put violators in jail for a long time."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents arrested the driver of the vehicle on importation of a controlled substance. He is identified as a 35-year-old Hugo Rodriguez-Villalba a Mexican citizen living in Cuidad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.