EL PASO, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Ysleta Entrance Port, Secure Electronic Network for Traveler Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) lane seized 27.4 pounds of cocaine on the evening of 6 January. A man was arrested in the case.
Drug bundles in engine compartment. (Credit: US Customs & Border Protection)
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“The use of the SENTRI track is a privilege. Nevertheless, we sometimes come across someone trying to circumvent the process, ”said CBP Ysleta Port Director Arnie Gomez. “That’s why we trust but reaffirm that users are not violating the trust that has been placed in them.”
The seizure was made just after 8pm when a 2016 Toyota Sienna called at the port from Mexico. A drug-sniffing dog searched the minivan and warned of the presence of drugs.
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CBP officers then performed an unobtrusive Z-Portal X-ray scan and physical inspection of the vehicle. The effort resulted in the discovery of several bundles hidden in the van’s engine compartment.
The driver of the minivan, a 28-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested. He was handed over to Homeland Security Investigation to be charged in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.
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SENTRI is a program that allows accelerated clearance for pre-approved low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Participants can enter the United States using dedicated primary lanes to the United States at southern land border ports. Travelers must be pre-approved for the SENTRI program. All applicants undergo a background check and a personal interview prior to enrollment.
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