EL PASO, Texas – A 26-year-old U.S. citizen was arrested on Sunday for allegedly attempting to smuggle methamphetamine across the Texas-Mexico border in an unusual way, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The man was stopped just after 4 a.m. at the Ysleta international crossing in El Paso. During an interview, CBP officers selected him for a secondary inspection. A drug-sniffing dog soon alerted them to the presence of narcotics.
Upon conducting a pat-down, officers discovered two packages hidden between the man’s buttocks, CBP stated in a release. Further testing confirmed the packages contained approximately one-third of a pound of methamphetamine.
The suspect was arrested and is now facing charges for importing a controlled substance. Authorities have not released the man’s name.
CBP’s Response
CBP Ysleta Port Director Arnie Gomez praised the officers’ vigilance in stopping the smuggling attempt.
“The keen observational skills of a CBP officer resulted in this seizure being made,” Gomez said. “Body carriers are a challenge, but our mix of officer expertise, canine support, and technology helps us identify and stop these types of smuggling attempts.”
CBP officials referred to the suspect as a “cheeky smuggler”—a nod to his bold but ultimately unsuccessful attempt.
