CBP Seizes Nearly 70 Pounds Meth at El Paso Border, Mexican Woman Detained

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Paso del Norte border crossing successfully intercepted nearly 70 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside the gas tank of a 2008 Ford Expedition. A CBP canine unit initially alerted officers, and further inspection using the Z-Portal system revealed the narcotics concealed within the fuel tank. The 25-year-old Mexican woman driving the vehicle was arrested and faces charges under 21 U.S. Code § 952 for importation of controlled substances, with Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office pursuing the case. This seizure is part of ongoing intensified efforts at the U.S.-Mexico border to combat drug smuggling, with CBP reporting thousands of pounds of narcotics intercepted in Fiscal Year 2024 alone. Similar recent incidents include a $15 million meth seizure inside a tractor trailer in Texas and the arrest of two smugglers in Sonora transporting nearly 500 pounds of meth. These cases underscore the complexity and persistence of cross-border narcotics trafficking and the continuous vigilance of law enforcement agencies.