9,084 pound marijuana seizure
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the El Paso port of entry seized 9,084 pounds of marijuana in a single bust Wednesday. The drugs were hidden in a commercial shipment of auto parts. The estimated street value of the seized marijuana is ů,267,200.
The seizure occurred shortly before noon Wednesday at the commercial cargo facility at the Ysleta international crossing. A CBP officer referred a 썋 GMC tractor that had entered the bridge through the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) lane hauling a 1999 Utility trailer laden with a shipment of auto parts for secondary inspection. A non-intrusive imaging system scan indicated anomalies within the shipment. CBP officers conducted an intensive examination of the tractor trailer at the cargo dock and discovered bundles commingled with the shipment of auto parts. CBP officers removed 6,640 bundles containing a total of 9,ጔ pounds of marijuana from the trailer.
“In order to maintain the integrity of the FAST program, CBP officers will verify that the system is not compromised by smuggling organization through targeted and random exams,” said William Molaski, U.S. Customs and Border Protection El Paso Port Director. “We trust but we also verify. Our recurring review of the trusted shipper program, through various layers of enforcement, ensures compliance.”
The driver of the truck had his FAST crossing privileges cancelled. No arrests were made at the time, and the investigation is continuing.
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