U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized large amounts of fentanyl and cocaine at El Paso ports of entry, including drugs hidden in a man's body cavity.
The El Paso Police Department is also hosting a free event to help prevent the theft of catalytic converters by providing vehicle identification number etching on the car parts.
Here is a look at what's happening in crime-related news in El Paso:
Man hides fentanyl in body cavity
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 132.4 grams of fentanyl on July 18 hidden in a man's body cavity, a CBP news release states.
A 56-year-old U.S. citizen, whose name was not released, attempted to walk across the Bridge of the Americas international port of entry about 4 a.m. and was inspected by officers. 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, the news release states.
An initial exam indicated that the man could be concealing drugs internally. The man was taken to a hospital for an exam. The exam revealed the man had foreign objects hidden in a body cavity.
The man passed two condom-wrapped bundles about 90 minutes later, the news release states. One bundle contained 81.6 grams of white powder of fentanyl. The second bundle had 50.8 grams of blue pills containing fentanyl.
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Officers arrested the man and turned him over to Homeland Security Investigations agents to face federal charges in connection with the failed drug smuggling attempt.
“Smuggling fentanyl internally is exceptionally dangerous, and we would advise anyone considering this to think twice and not risk their life or liberty,” CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio said in a statement. “CBP has multiple layers of enforcement to identify and stop these smuggling attempts.”
CBP officers seize cocaine hidden in vehicle
A 21-year-old woman, who is a U.S. citizen, attempted to drive a 2001 Ford Explorer into the U.S. at the Ysleta international port of entry before 4 p.m. on July 20, a CBP news release states.
Officers selected the vehicle for a secondary exam after "a low-energy portal scan identified anomalies in the appearance of the SUV," the news release states.
A CBP drug-sniffing dog searched the vehicle and alerted the officers to the presence of narcotics. Officers found a hidden compartment below the vehicle's rear seat. The compartment had 10 bundles containing 42 pounds of cocaine.
Officers arrested the woman and turned her over to Homeland Security Investigations agents to face federal charges in connection with the failed drug smuggling attempt.
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“Homeland security is our primary mission; but the tools and techniques we employ often help us stop drug smugglers in their tracks,” CBP Ysleta Port Director Arnie Gomez said in a statement. “This is yet another example of how the work performed by CBP helps keep our communities safe.”
El Paso police hosting catalytic converter theft prevention event
El Paso has reported more than 800 catalytic converter thefts over the past 3 years, El Paso Police Department spokesperson Detective Judy Oviedo said in a news release.
The massive amount of threats is "posing a serious concern for residents and law enforcement," the news release states,
El Paso police and Take 5 Oil Change are providing free vehicle identification number etching on catalytic converters from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at the Take 5 Oil Change shop located at 1341 N. Zaragoza Road.
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Vehicle identification number etching is a "preventative measure aimed at reducing thefts and helping identify stolen property more easily," the news release states. The permanent etching of the vehicle identification number onto the catalytic converter makes it more difficult for thieves to sell the stolen part without proof of ownership.
"The VIN etching service is completely free of charge and residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to protect their vehicles and assist law enforcement in fighting this growing trend," the news release states.
For more information, call the El Paso Police Department Auto Theft Task Force at 915-212-0310.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: CBP officers seized fentanyl hidden in man's body cavity
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