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  4. CBP Officers Stop Three Teenagers Allegedly Smuggling Fentanyl

CBP Officers Stop Three Teenagers Allegedly Smuggling Fentanyl

Release Date
Tue, 04/03/2018

SAN DIEGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro port of entry thwarted three alleged narcotic smuggling attempts over the weekend after discovering teens carrying packages of fentanyl strapped to their bodies.

CBP officers stop a 17-year-old at the San Ysidro PedEast facility with four pounds of fentanyl strapped to his body.On Friday, Mar. 30, at about 7:20 p.m., CBP officers at the San Ysidro Pedestrian East border crossing encountered a 17-year-old male Mexican citizen. A CBP officer conducting inspections at the primary booth noticed some inconsistencies and conducted a visual search of the teen, revealing an anomaly on his back. A CBP officer conducted an immediate pat down for weapons and discovered two packages strapped to his back. CBP officers later identified the two packages as fentanyl weighing over 4 pounds. The fentanyl carries an estimated street value of $141,000.

On Saturday, Mar. 31, at about 8:20 p.m., CBP officers at the San Ysidro Pedestrian West border crossing encountered a 15-year-old male Mexican citizen. A CBP officer noticed some discrepancies during the inspection and referred the teen for further examination. During the escort, the CBP officer noticed a bulge on the teen’s back and subsequently discovered two packages strapped to him. CBP officers later identified the two packages as fentanyl weighing just under 5 pounds. The fentanyl carries an estimated street value of $143,000.

CBP officers at the San Ysidro PedWest facility stopped a 15-year-old and 17-year-old within fifteen minutes of each other, each with packages of fentanyl strapped to their bodies.Ten minutes later, at about 8:30 p.m., CBP officers at the San Ysidro Pedestrian West border crossing encountered a 17-year-old male U.S. citizen. A CBP officer noticed a bulge on the teen’s back and discovered two packages strapped to him. CBP officers later identified the two packages as fentanyl weighing just under 5 pounds. The fentanyl carries an estimated street value of $143,000.

“These cases all involve juveniles allegedly attempting to smuggle a dangerous and lethal narcotic such as fentanyl. Fentanyl is known to be 50 to 100 times more deadly than heroin,” said Pete Flores, Director of Field Operations for CBP in San Diego.  “The dangers associated with the unfamiliarity of handling fentanyl can be deadly. Please understand that no matter what you may be told, there are consequences for engaging in this type of activity, not to mention the dangers of working with transnational criminal organizations.”

The teenagers were arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further processing.

CBP officers seized the narcotics. 

The seizures from this weekend come after CBP officers stopped two other allegedly smuggling attempts by teenagers last week at the San Ysidro port of entry.

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.

Last Modified: Oct 27, 2023