Customs officers at the Bridge of the Americas cargo facility in El Paso, Texas, made a startling discovery. A commercial ice cream maker being transported from Mexico to the US concealed a staggering 146 pounds of cocaine. On June 19, an X-ray scan of a pickup truck driven by a 43-year-old Mexican man revealed anomalies, leading to further investigation.
Upon closer inspection, 56 bundles of the illicit drug were discovered hidden within the ice cream machine's walls. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesperson Roger Maier estimated the value of the seized cocaine at $1.2 million. The narcotics, along with the vehicle, were seized, and the driver now faces state charges in connection with the smuggling attempt.
In a statement, acting CBP El Paso port director Luis Mejia highlighted that drugs can be concealed in numerous ways, necessitating ongoing vigilance. So far, CBP has seized more than 33,000 pounds of cocaine in 2023. Data indicates that over 70,200 pounds of the illegal substance were intercepted in the previous year.
