1,577 Lb Marijuana Load Seized at El Paso Port

EL PASO, TEXAS U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers performing anti-terror inspections at El Paso area border ports of entry made six marijuana seizures this past weekend, confiscating a total of 2,021 pounds of the drug. CBP officers recorded more than 100 additional violations during a weekend of heavy travel. CBP managers and front line officers were able to keep traffic moving quickly over the weekend while still ensuring that violations were stopped cold, said David Longoria, CBP Port Director, El Paso. Border crossing times exceeded one hour one time at one location this weekend. But any person who thought that they could exploit our efforts to keep traffic flowing at the expense of enforcement was mistaken and wound up in the custody of CBP. The most significant seizure of the weekend happened late Friday night (January 5) at the Paso Del Norte (PDN) port of entry in El Paso. CBP officers working at the downtown crossing discovered 1,577 pounds of marijuana hidden in a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche that entered the port from Mexico just after 9 p.m. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents arrested 39-year-old Nora G. Valdivia of El Paso in the failed smuggling attempt. Area CBP officers made 21 food and agricultural seizures during the weekend, resulting in $5,400 in penalties being assessed. Prohibited items seized included raw eggs, pork bologna, chorizo, carnitas, raw pork, avocados, mangos, oranges, apples, limes, sugar cane, guavas and live plants. The interception of these prohibited items are an important element in preventing the introduction of pests and disease that pose a risk to the U.S. agriculture industry and the nations natural resources. First time offenders face up to $300 in penalties for agriculture import violations. CBP officers working at the border ports of entry in El Paso, west Texas and New Mexico recorded 75 immigration violations between January 5 and January 7. CBP officers identified 29 intended immigrant cases (people with legitimate entry documents intending to live/work illegally in the U.S.), 22 false claims for U.S. citizenship, 18 imposters (people using a legitimate document not assigned to the person), five people attempting to enter the U.S. with counterfeit entry documents, and one visa overstay violation. CBP officers nabbed a total of 17 wanted people over the past week while performing anti-terror inspections. A total of 655 fugitives have been nabbed at local border crossings since the beginning of the current fiscal year. CBP officers this weekend also seized $31,519 in unreported currency in two cases, assessed $1,000 in penalties for illegal vehicle exports, and seized 15 vials of steroids. Border traffic was heavier than normal over the weekend as thousand of paisanos returned to the U.S. after spending the holiday season in Mexico. CBP officers prepared for the expected surge by opening more lanes of traffic earlier than usual to ensure that border crossing wait times would be as short as possible. On Friday, the maximum crossing time recorded was 64 minutes at 7 p.m. at the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) crossing. The maximum Friday wait time at PDN was 51 minutes at 2 p.m. while the maximum wait at Ysleta was 36 minutes between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. On Saturday, the maximum crossing time recorded was 53 minutes at 7 p.m. at the BOTA crossing. The maximum Saturday wait time at PDN was 20 minutes at 3 p.m. while the maximum wait at Ysleta was 25 minutes at 1 a.m., 9 p.m., and again at 11 p.m. On Sunday, the maximum crossing time recorded was 50 minutes at 9 p.m. at the BOTA crossing. The maximum Sunday wait time at PDN was 53 minutes at 9 p.m. while the maximum wait at Ysleta was 30 minutes between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. and again between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Border wait times are calculated hourly. CBP officers obtain wait time information directly from members of the traveling public. CBP officers survey a number of crossers at different lanes every hour and then calculate the average wait based upon the data they collect directly from the traveling public, said Longoria. Border crossing times are then posted on the CBP website (www.cbp.gov) every hour. The length of the line is not an accurate gauge of border crossing times because it does not factor in the number of open inspection booths on the U.S. side and the overall speed of the inspection process. 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.