PRESIDIO: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers working at the Presidio port of entry seized 172 pounds of marijuana Tuesday afternoon. The drugs were hidden in a false bed of a pick-up truck.
“CBP officers working at the Presidio port of entry utilize multiple resources in intercepting narcotics,” said Presidio Port Director John Deputy. “But it all begins with the officer and his interview skills to determine if a more thorough inspection is necessary.”
The drug seizure was made at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday when a 2002 Chevy Silverado driven by a male Mexican citizen made entry. CBP officers initiated an examination of the vehicle by first utilizing the Z-Portal x-ray system. Anomalies were observed in the bed of the pick-up and then a narcotics detector dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. Drilling the bed of the truck extracted a green, leafy material which tested positive for marijuana. CBP officers removed a total of 82 bundles from the compartment.
The 39-year-old-driver, Julio Cesar Aros Camacho, was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations ICE agents to face federal prosecution for the failed smuggling attempt.
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.
