Customs officers seize ecstasy, cocaine and marijauna in past week

El Paso Times staff report
Posted: 05/07/2009 03:18:07 PM MDT

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso port of entry seized 244 ecstasy tablets late Tuesday. The drugs were concealed in the rectum of an El Paso man.
They also seized 51.9 pounds of cocaine from the bumper of a car and 3,824 pounds of marijuana in commercial truck in separate incidents Wednesday.

"The seizures illustrate only some of the varied concealment methods smugglers use in an attempt to thwart the CBP inspection process," William Molaski, CBP El Paso port director said in a news release. "From very small to exceptionally large all the drug seizures were noteworthy in that they illustrate the challenges CBP officers face on a daily basis."

The ecstasy seizure was made late Tuesday night as a 23-year-old man from El Paso walked across the Bridge of the Americas international crossing. CBP officers selected the man for an intensive exam. As the exam progressed, CBP officers developed reason to believe that the man had an item concealed in a body cavity. While awaiting an x-ray exam to confirm the presence of the object, a CBP officer observed the suspect remove an item from his pants attempt to conceal it under a nearby mattress.

The CBP officer was able to secure object, which was a red balloon about the size of two golf balls. CBP officers opened the balloon and discovered 244 tablets. A tablet was tested and the result was positive for MDMA (ecstasy). No other drugs were discovered during a full exam of the suspect. The subject was turned over to the El Paso Police Department Wednesday morning for local prosecution. The estimated street value of the ecstasy is just under $5,000.

The cocaine seizure was made early Wednesday morning at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in downtown El Paso. A CBP officer was inspecting a 2000 Ford Taurus at the primary inspection booth when a CBP drug sniffing dog alerted to the vehicle. CBP officers moved the vehicle to the secondary inspection area where they discovered bundles concealed in the front bumper and in a space near the radiator. CBP officers removed a total of 18 cocaine-filled bundles weighing 51.9 pounds.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents arrested the driver of the car after the case was accepted for federal prosecution. He was identified as 26-year-old Guillermo Alcocer Diaz of Juárez. He is currently detained without bond at the El Paso County detention facility.

A few hours later, CBP officers working at the BOTA commercial cargo facility discovered 3,824 of marijuana concealed in a load of scrap metal. The seizure was made when a 1987 Kenworth tractor entered the facility from Mexico and was selected for an x-ray scan. The scan indicated large dense areas in the middle and front of the trailer. CBP officers opened a large metal box that was concealed under the load of scrap and discovered numerous large marijuana-filled bundles in side. CBP officers removed a total of 162 drug filled bundles from six large metal boxes inside the shipment.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents arrested the driver of the truck after the case was accepted for federal prosecution. He was identified as Juan Alberto Lopez Prieto, 35, of Juárez. He is currently detained without bond at the El Paso County detention facility.

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