EL PASO, TX — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Bridge of the Americas international port of entry seized 132.4 grams of fentanyl July 18. The drugs were concealed in the rectum of a 56-year-old male U.S. citizen.
“Smuggling fentanyl internally is exceptionally dangerous, and we would advise anyone considering this to think twice and not risk their life or liberty,” said CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio. “CBP has multiple layers of enforcement to identify and stop these smuggling attempts.”
The seizure was made shortly before 4 a.m. when the man presented himself for inspection at the BOTA pedestrian area. A CBP canine officer performing a sweep of arriving people received a positive alert for the presence of narcotics when his dog searched the man.
An initial exam indicated that the man could be concealing drugs internally. The man was transported to a local medical facility for an exam, which confirmed the presence of foreign objects in his rectum.
About 90 minutes after the confirmation, the man passed two condom-wrapped bundles. One contained a white powder which tested positive for fentanyl. The weight was 81.6 grams. A second bundle contained blue pills which also tested positive for fentanyl. The weight was 50.8 grams.
CBP officers arrested the driver. He was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt.
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