In a Single Week, Authorities Seize $1.5M Worth of Fentanyl and Cocaine from Cartel Smugglers in El Paso

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in El Paso prevented 11.2 pounds of fentanyl and 113 pounds of cocaine from entering the illicit drug market in just one week. The seizures, with a total street value of $1.5 million, were made before the Cinco de Mayo holiday. Hector Mancha, CBP’s Director of Field Operations for El Paso, stated that the seized drugs will not harm the communities. CBP officers discovered cocaine in a Hyundai Elantra at the Bridge of Americas Port of Entry and fentanyl in a compact car at the Ysleta Port of Entry. Overall, 70.8 pounds of cocaine were seized during the week. Fentanyl overdoses are a nationwide issue, with nearly 70 fentanyl-related deaths in El Paso County in the latest medical examiner’s report. The DEA campaign “One Pill Can Kill” warns about the dangers of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.