see also: in December 2008:   CBP Lists Top 10 Enforcement Events of 2008   CBP Seizes $200K in Undeclared Currency; Arrest 1 at Texas Port   Marfa Sector Agents Apprehend Murder Suspect   San Ysidro Port Modernization Deployment Temporarily Reduces Lanes   Border Patrol Agents Assist in Locating Distressed Individual   CBP Officers Stop Man at Michigan Border Crossing Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault   Holiday Surprise; CBP Unwraps 312 Pounds of Khat in December ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Detroit – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Ambassador Bridge discovered 67.5 pounds of ecstasy hidden in a rear quarter panel of a Michigan plated car attempting to make entry into the U.S. on Thursday.

The car, driven by a 31-year-old male United States citizen who lives in Detroit, was entering the United States Thursday, December 18 at approximately 4 p.m. The car was approached by Customs and Border Protection officers who were working in the area in front of the inspection booths. The officers were told by the driver that he had been visiting a friend in Windsor and was not bringing anything back with him. The officers chose the car for further inspection and directed it to the CBP secondary inspection area.

In the secondary inspection area an officer noticed that the gas tank appeared to be new and attempted to look inside it using a fiber optic scope. When this was unsuccessful the officers used a mobile x-ray on the car and discovered an object in the driver’s side rear quarter panel. Removing the panels resulted in the discovery of 20 bags of colored pills. When tested the pills were identified as ecstasy.

The driver was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents for federal prosecution.

“Using roving teams of officers to look at cars before they approach the primary booths is another tool we use to determine which vehicles or travelers we need to look at more closely,” said Port Director Roderick Blanchard. “In this instance the officers used there instincts and training to determine that this car need to have further attention and our technology to find the drugs.”

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.