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El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso port of entry intercepted 60.63 pounds of cocaine in two separate seizures Tuesday morning.

In addition, CBP officers intercepted 250 pounds of marijuana in five other seizures. Two of the marijuana seizures involved juveniles with drugs hidden on their bodies. The estimated street value of the drugs in all seven seizures is $2,140,224.

	CBP officers in El Paso find 10 packages of cocaine inside the rear doors of a Dodge Intrepid entering the U.S.

The first cocaine seizure was made at approximately 9:35 a.m. when a 1994 Dodge Intrepid entered the port from Mexico at the Paso Del Norte border crossing. CBP officers were performing a pre-primary sweep of vehicles waiting in line when CBP drug sniffing dog “Rico” alerted his handler to the rear door of the car. CBP officers initiated a search of the vehicle and discovered 10 cocaine-filled bundles inside the rear doors. Luis Garcia-Lopez, a 52-year-old Juarez resident was arrested in the failed smuggling attempt.

The second cocaine seizure occurred at 12:25 p.m. at the Bridge of the Americas border crossing when a 2006 Renault Clio arrived from Mexico at the port. CBP drug sniffing dog “Outlaw” alerted his handler to the under-carriage of the car as it waited in line pre-primary. CBP officers searched the vehicle and discovered 14 cocaine–filled bundles inside the muffler. CBP arrested Ramon Quintana-Matamoros, a 31-year-old Parral, Chihuahua resident.

“Pre-primary enforcement operations are a very important element in our layered enforcement strategy,” said William Molaski, U S. Customs and Border Protection, El Paso port director. “Instead of us waiting for the smugglers to come to us, we go out and get them before they arrive at the primary inspection booth.”

In addition to the previously mentioned seizures, CBP officers working at the El Paso port of entry made the following five drug seizures on Tuesday.

At 10:00 a.m., CBP officers at the Paso Del Norte border crossing seized 121.66 pounds of marijuana. The drugs were concealed in the walls of the bed of a 1998 Ford Ranger. A 34-year-old Juarez man was arrested.

At 11.30 a.m., CBP officers at the Bridge of the Americas border crossing seized 86.32 pounds of marijuana. The drugs were concealed inside the front and rear seats of a 1986 Dodge van. A 27-year-old Juarez man was arrested.

At 11:40 a.m., CBP officers at the Ysleta border crossing seized 6.82 pounds of marijuana. A pedestrian smuggler had the drugs taped to his back. A 15-year-old male was arrested and turned over to the custody of the El Paso Police Department.

At 4:29 p.m., CBP officers at the Ysleta border crossing seized 26.88 pounds of marijuana. The drugs were concealed in the rear tires of 2006 Nissan Tsuru. A 28-year-old Juarez man was arrested.

At 5:30 p.m., CBP officers at the Ysleta border crossing seized 8.31 pounds of marijuana. A pedestrian smuggler had the drugs taped to his back. A 15-year-old male was arrested and turned over to the custody of the El Paso Police Department.

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.