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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Bridge of the Americas international port of entry seized more than 132 grams of fentanyl when a man tried to conceal the drugs in a body cavity, CBP said in a news release.
CBP officers seized 132.4 grams of fentanyl in the early morning hours of Friday, July 18.
“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. “CBP has multiple layers of enforcement to identify and stop these smuggling attempts.”
The seizure was made shortly before 4 a.m. on July 18 when a 56-year-old man presented himself for inspection at the BOTA pedestrian area. A CBP canine officer received a positive alert for the presence of narcotics when his dog searched the man.
An initial exam showed that the man could be concealing drugs internally, CBP said. The man was transported to a local medical facility for an exam, which confirmed the presence of foreign objects in a body cavity, CBP added.
About 90 minutes after the confirmation, the man passed two condom-wrapped bundles, CBP said.
One contained a white powder which tested positive for fentanyl. The weight was 81.6 grams. A second bundle contained blue pills which also tested positive for fentanyl. The weight was 50.8 grams.
CBP officers arrested the man, according to CBP. He was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt.