CBP News Release

Animal Tranquilizer Seizure Highlights Busy Week for CBP Officers

(Friday, October 24, 2008)

El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at El Paso area ports of entry made a large seizure of the animal tranquilizer Ketamine on Thursday.

It was one of several significant enforcement events recorded by CBP officers working at the El Paso, Fabens, Fort Hancock, Presidio, Santa Teresa, Columbus and Antelope Wells crossings during the past week.

The Ketamine seizure was made at 7:30 a.m. today at the Paso Del Norte pedestrian crossing in downtown El Paso. A CBP officers processing pedestrian traffic noted that a male border crosser seemed nervous during routine processing. The CBP officer then observed what appeared to be an unusual bulge beneath the man’s trousers. A closer exam revealed 11 bundles taped to the man’s legs. Each bundle contained 10 vials of Ketamine. CBP officers seized 110 vials of the drug. The violator, a 29-year-old citizen of Mexico had his entry documents seized and cancelled before he was removed to Mexico.

Area CBP officers also made 27 marijuana seizures this week, confiscating 1,897 pounds of the drug.

During the past seven days, CBP officers recorded 101 immigration violations at area ports. CBP officers stopped 41 imposters because of through thorough document exams. Imposters generally will use a legitimate entry document assigned to another person and present it as their own. Violators generally lose their documents and are returned to Mexico. CBP officers nabbed 42 intended immigrants this week.

In these cases, individuals will use a legally issued border-crossing card (laser visa) to live or work in the U.S., which is not authorized. They also lose their documents and are generally returned to Mexico. Area CBP officers also identified 18 people who made false claims to U.S. citizenship, attempted to enter with counterfeit or altered documents, visa overstay violations, and those attempting to enter without inspection.

CBP officers working at area ports recorded a total of seven agriculture violations this week, resulting in $1,375 in penalties being assessed. Prohibited agricultural items seized this week included bologna, chorizo, fresh eggs, avocados, apples, guavas, and manzano peppers. Area border crossers are urged to declare all food items they have acquired abroad to avoid penalties and to help reduce the potential for the introduction of harmful pests and disease. Failure to declare prohibited items can result in a $300 penalty for an initial offense. If properly declared, prohibited food items can generally be abandoned at the port of entry without consequence.

In addition to the agriculture and immigration violations, CBP officers working at El Paso area ports assessed $2,750 in penalties in five illegal export cases and made two seizures of prohibited medications. While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release
9400 Viscount Blvd.
Room 104
El Paso, TX 79925 Roger Maier
Sr. Press Officer
Phone: (915) 633-7300 Ext: 122
Fax: (915) 633-7364

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