see also: in March 2008:   Summer Months an Added Challenge for Border Patrol   Los Meses de Verano, un Reto Para la Patrulla Fronteriza   Border Patrol Agents Rescue 38 Illegal Aliens from Smuggling Attempt   Laredo North Station Border Patrol Agents Arrest MS-13 Member   Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Arrest 18th Street Gang Member   El Paso Border Patrol Agents Arrest Criminals with Extensive Records ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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El Paso, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducting anti-terrorism operations at the El Paso port of entry intercepted 60 pounds of marijuana at the Bridge of the Americas border crossing Saturday. The significance of the seizure was the concealment method used to smuggle the narcotics. The marijuana was concealed inside of a 36-inch television.

At about 7 p.m. Saturday a burgundy 1989 Toyota Camry station wagon arrived at primary inspection. The driver stated he had nothing to declare from Mexico. Driver informed CBP that he was visiting El Paso to go shopping and also to return a non-working television. The CBP officer became suspicious of the driver when noticed him displaying nervous behavior. The driver and vehicle were referred to secondary for further examination. Inspection of the vehicle was conducted with CBP drug sniffing dog “Chip.” CBP officers discovered 61 bundles of marijuana concealed inside of the television.

“Smuggling organizations will use every imaginable concealment method to get the narcotics through our international ports of entry,” said Arthur Gonzales, CBP Acting Port Director in El Paso. “Anti-Terrorism is our primary mission but we are still focused on enforcement of immigration documents and illegal contraband.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents arrested the driver of the vehicle on importation of a controlled substance. He is identified as 21-year-old Carlos L. Macedo-Soto a Mexican citizen residing in Cuidad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.

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.

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.