May 21, 10

NEWS / CBP Officers Uncover Nearly One Ton of Marijuana in False Trailer Floor

El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso port of entry made two marijuana seizures yesterday confiscating 1,867.76 pounds of marijuana, including one seizure in the false floor of a trailer.

“These are outstanding seizures which demonstrate the dedication, versatility, and skill that our frontline officers display daily on the frontline”, said William Molaski, CBP El Paso port director. “I congratulate our officers for these interceptions and for the great job they do each day in combating the illicit drug trade.”

The larger of the two seizures was made at approximately 11 a.m. when a 1993 International tractor hauling a trailer containing tile entered the Ysleta cargo facility from Mexico. CBP officers selected the vehicle for a gamma-ray exam and identified several anomalies in the appearance of the trailer floor.

The vehicle was moved to the inspection dock where CBP drug sniffing dog “W” searched the trailer and alerted to the floor of the trailer. CBP officers inspected the floor and found tape wrapped bundles concealed under the floor wood planks. The officers removed a total of 680 bundles, whose contents of the bundles tested positive for marijuana with an approximate weight of 1,813.24 pounds. No arrests were made and the investigation is continuing.

In addition to the drug seizures, CBP officers apprehended three fugitives from justice, and intercepted 16 immigration violations yesterday including 12 intended immigrants and four imposters. Intended immigrants will use a legally issued border-crossing card, or laser visa, to live or work in the U.S., which is not authorized. They lose their documents and are generally returned to Mexico.

Imposters generally will use a legitimate entry document assigned to another person and present it as their own. Violators generally lose their documents, can be prosecuted and go to jail and/or are returned to Mexico.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/05192010_4.xml

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