see also: in May 2007 News Releases:   Agriculture Inspection, User Fee Requirements Begin June 1 for Commercial Trucks, Railroad Cars Entering U.S. From Canada   Customs and Border Protection starts 2007 Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act Cycle   New Mexico Border Patrol Seizes Nearly $1.5 Million in Marijuana   Suspected Child Molester, FBI Top 10 Fugitive Turned Over to Buffalo Customs and Border Protection   Jayson P. Ahern Announced as Next CBP Deputy Commissioner   CBP Border Patrol Continues Recruiting With Help of Car #28   Electronic Manifest Filing Now Mandatory in Michigan and New York ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

El Paso, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso port of entry seized 90 pounds of cocaine this week in three separate seizures. They also seized 2,835 pounds of marijuana in 29 busts, a small quantity of methamphetamine in two seizures, and Ketamine and other prescription drugs in two additional busts during the last seven days.

The largest cocaine seizure of the week occurred Monday at the Paso Del Norte crossing in downtown El Paso when CBP officers discovered 36.7 pounds of the drug concealed in a 1999 Pontiac Montana minivan. CBP officers removed a total of 15 cocaine-filled bundles from a pair of hidden compartments in the vehicle. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents arrested the driver, 32-year-old Luz E. Moreno of Las Cruces, New Mexico in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.

CBP officers at the Ysleta port of entry in El Paso discovered 28 pounds of cocaine on Monday as well. CBP officers removed a total of 12 cocaine-filled bundles from a dashboard compartment of a 1995 Buick LeSabre that entered the port from Mexico. ICE special agents arrested the driver, 51-year-old Javier Gonzalez Lopez of El Paso, Texas in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.

The third cocaine seizure of the week occurred last Friday at the Ysleta crossing when CBP officers discovered 25.7 pounds of the drug concealed in a 1996 Geo Tracker. CBP officers removed a total of 20 cocaine-filled bundles from the rocker panels of the vehicle. ICE special agents arrested the driver, 43-year-old Marcos Abelardo Ramos Castillo of Juarez, Mexico in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.

In addition to the drug seizures, CBP officers working at the border ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas and New Mexico recorded 129 immigration violations during the last seven days. During the week, CBP officers identified a total of 53 imposters (people using a legitimate document not assigned to the person) 27 intended immigrant cases (people with legitimate entry documents intending to live/work illegally in the U.S.), 19 false claims for U.S. citizenship by non U.S. citizens, 21 people attempting to enter the U.S. with counterfeit, fraudulent or altered entry documents, and nine people attempting to enter without inspection.

Area CBP officers made 12 additional agricultural seizures during the week, resulting in $2,725 in penalties being assessed. First time violators face penalties of up to $300. Prohibited items seized this week included raw pork, ham, avocados, apples, mangos, guavas, plums, pears and live plants. Dozens of other prohibited agricultural items were abandoned at border ports during the inspection process. The interception of these prohibited items are important in preventing the introduction of pests and disease that pose a risk to the U.S. agriculture industry.

CBP officers this week also seized nine live chickens, one rooster, and 20 pairs of sunglasses that violated trademark laws, undeclared ammunition, and assessed $4,700 in penalties for nine export violations. 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 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.