see also: in December 2005 Press Releases:   New SENTRI/Dedicated Commuter Lane to Open at Calexico/Mexicali Port of Entry Thursday   CBP Border Patrol Agents Arrest Homicide Suspect   CBP Border Patrol Agent Saves Two Mexican Nationals From Drowning   U.S. Joins Revised World Customs Organization Convention   One Ton of Marijuana Seized at Nogales Port of Entry   Another Child Smuggling Arrest at Hidalgo Port   CBP Border Patrol Seizes Over a Ton of Marijuana ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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PRESIDIO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers performing anti-terrorism operations at the Presidio port of entry seized 41 grams of cocaine late Thursday afternoon. The drugs were concealed in a baby car seat.

The seizure was made just before 4 p.m. when a 2004 GMC Sierra entered the Presidio port from Mexico. A CBP officer at the primary inspection booth noticed that both occupants of the vehicle were nervous during routine questioning. The CBP officer began searching the vehicle and observed a plastic bag containing a white powdery substance hidden under the padding of an unoccupied baby car seat. CBP drug sniffing dog “Eddie” then searched the vehicle and alerted to the seat. CBP officers removed the bag and confirmed it was filled with cocaine.

ICE special agents arrested two Presidio men in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. They included the driver, 28-year-old David Serrano-Villalobos, and the passenger, 26-year-old Jesus Manuel Renteria. Both men made an initial court appearance before a federal magistrate in Alpine on Friday and were scheduled to be charged with importation of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

In addition to the Presidio cocaine seizure, CBP officers working at ports of entry in West Texas and New Mexico made 13 additional drug seizures during the seven day period ending December 1, seizing 1,874 pounds of marijuana and less than a pound of cocaine. One of those drug seizures occurred at the Stanton Street Dedicated Commuter Lane (DCL) in El Paso on November 28 when CBP officers 58 pounds of marijuana. It was the second drug seizure at the DCL in less than two weeks. CBP officers at the DCL also seized 117 pounds of marijuana November 18.

CBP officers in the El Paso area discovered 10 attempts to smuggle prohibited food products during the same seven-day period, resulting in $1100 in penalties being assessed. CBP officers seized sugar cane, pork, chorizo, avocados, pears, apples, tangerines, and guavas in those cases.

A total of 66 immigration related violations were uncovered at El Paso ports during the past week. CBP officers identified two imposters (people using a legitimate document not assigned to the person), 41 intended immigrant cases (people with legitimate entry documents intending to live/work illegally in the U.S.), 21 false claims for U.S. citizenship, one case of a person attempting to enter the U.S. with counterfeit entry documents, and one visa overstay violation.

Area CBP officers apprehended 16 fugitives during the last seven days. A total of 194 wanted people have been apprehended by area CBP officers since October 1, 2005, the beginning of the fiscal year. Last year area CBP officers apprehend in excess of 1,230 wanted people while performing inspections at area ports of entry.

Anti-terrorism remains the primary mission of CBP. The intensive inspection process associated with the anti-terror mission continues to yield impressive enforcement numbers in all categories.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 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.