U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Eagle Pass, Texas, made a significant drug bust on Monday, seizing nearly $1.1 million worth of methamphetamine concealed in a vehicle entering the U.S. at a port of entry.
According to a press release from CBP, officers at Eagle Pass Port of Entry discovered 120 pounds of alleged methamphetamine, valued at $1,104,419, hidden in the quarter panels of the vehicle during a routine inspection, Fox News reports.
CBP’s Port Director Pete Beattie commended the officers, stating, “CBP officers did an exceptional job in interdicting these illicit narcotics at our port of entry.” He emphasized the importance of such seizures in keeping dangerous drugs out of communities and disrupting criminal organizations’ revenue streams.
The seizure took place at the Camino Real International Bridge after a Mexican citizen driving through the port was directed for a secondary inspection. A subsequent canine and non-intrusive inspection of the vehicle revealed the methamphetamine concealed in the quarter panels.
Illegal migrant crossing in Eagle Pass spotted wearing a Biden-Harris 2020 shirt:
"I have it on so they can let me in.” pic.twitter.com/4LleA2yEVD
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) March 7, 2024
Following the discovery, the narcotics were seized, and a passenger was arrested before Homeland Security Investigations agents assumed control of the case for further investigation.
This bust follows a similar incident in Southern California, where CBP officers seized nearly 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of carrots at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility near San Diego.
Since the start of fiscal 2024 in October, CBP has seized over 49,000 pounds of methamphetamine, underscoring the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat drug smuggling across the border. In comparison, border officers confiscated approximately 140,000 pounds of methamphetamine throughout all of fiscal 2023.
