see also: in April 2008:   U. S. Customs and Border Protection Seizes $1.3 Million Worth of Counterfeit Cigarettes   Border Patrol Launches Rhode Island Search   Border Patrol Agent Search Launches in Atlanta   Two Weeks = Two Tons of Marijuana Seized at Arizona Port of Entry   New Jersey CBP Officers Make $4 Million Heroin Candy Bar Bust   Border Patrol Agents Locate More Than Half Ton of Marijuana ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working anti-terrorism operations at the Bridge of the Americas commercial cargo lot in El Paso discovered 3,343 pounds of marijuana in a sea container yesterday. The huge bales of pot were concealed in a false wall compartment of a sea container being transported by truck from Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico.

On Monday at about 12:15 p.m., a 1993 International tractor arrived at primary inspection. The driver told CBP that he was hauling an empty container but when a CBP primary officer selected the cargo conveyance for an x-ray examination the non-intrusive inspection revealed a false compartment at the front end of the container. CBP narcotics canine “Irwin” was used to inspect the conveyance and alerted to the front wall as well. CBP officers removed 270 large packages of marijuana from the false compartment. No arrests have been made.

“What a success story for our El Paso CBP officers,” said Arthur Gonzales, acting port director in El Paso. “In the last 15 days our officers made two significant seizures that prevented more than two tons of marijuana from entering the U.S.”

While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U. S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the international 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.