see also: in October 2008:   Mexican Military Makes Accidental Incursion into the U.S.   CBP Officers Apprehend Illegal Alien Hidden on Rail Car   Border Patrol Agents Make Several Drug Seizures Near Laredo   CBP Officers at the Calexico Downtown Port of Entry Intercept Cocaine Smuggling Attempt   CBP to Open Andrade Port of Entry Earlier During Agriculture Harvest Season   Layered Enforcement Snags U.S. Citizen, Foils 3 Smuggling Attempts   CBP Announces Online Method for Meeting SENTRI Vehicle Requirements ...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 Paso Del Norte border crossing discovered 152 pounds of marijuana in rolls of roofing paper. The roofing paper was in the bed of a pickup truck that came across from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, yesterday.

On Wednesday at about 9 a.m., a 1996 GMC Sierra arrived at the primary inspection booth. The driver told the CBP officer that he was a U.S. citizen and had nothing to declare from Mexico. The CBP officer noticed the driver was nervous, so he referred the vehicle for further inspection. In secondary, CBP drug sniffing canine “Max” searched the truck and alerted to the rolls of roofing paper. CBP officers discovered 144 marijuana-filled packages concealed in the six rolls of roofing paper.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents arrested Henry C. Knezek in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. Knezek, 57, is a U.S. citizen residing in Ciudad Juarez.

“You name it and we have seen it. We have intercepted drugs in coffee shipments, cans of jalapeños, televisions, and now roofing paper rolls,” said William Molaski, CBP acting port director in El Paso.

“Once we identify a method of concealment smuggling organizations change and try something new”.

While anti-terrorism is CBP’s primary mission, 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.