EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has reported a significant increase in traffic through border checkpoints during the holiday season.
The increase in traffic comes as CBP officers in the El Paso field office seized 263.1 kilos of narcotics from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.
The drugs, including cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana, were found in seven passenger vehicles at the Santa Teresa, Paso del Norte, Bridge of the Americas, and Ysleta Ports of Entry.
CBP officers said they used canine detection, nonintrusive inspection technology, and physical inspections to uncover the narcotics.
“The vigilance of our CBP officers has resulted in multiple seizures of narcotics this past week,” Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations, said. “I am glad that our team has disrupted these narcotics smuggling attempts.”
According to CBP, in Fiscal Year 2025, the CBP El Paso Field Office seized 5,927 pounds of illegal narcotics.
CBP spoke with KFOX-14/CBS4 about the increase in traffic and drugs during the holiday season.
WATCH:
Holiday travel causes heavy traffic at border checkpoints as drugs are seized (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)
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