U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Port of Ysleta Cargo Facility seized 548 pounds of liquid methamphetamine worth an estimated $3 million on the black market on March 30.
“This significant seizure is a perfect example of the work our CBP Officers do on a daily basis to protect our communities and nation,” said CBP Ysleta Port Director Arnoldo Gomez in an agency press release.
According to the statement, on the day of the seizure, a 47-year-old male Mexican national driving a tractor-trailer applied for entry into the United States from Mexico through the Ysleta Port of Entry cargo facility. The initial CBP officer referred the driver for a secondary commercial vehicle inspection.
A non-intrusive inspection was conducted during the secondary examination, and anomalies were discovered within the vehicle’s fuel tank.
A CBP Officer assisted with the inspection with his drug-sniffing canine partner, resulting in an alert to the presence of an odor emitting from the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that the tank contained a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine properties. CBP seized the liquid methamphetamine after safely extracting it from the fuel tank and secured it in containers.
According to Crystalmethaddiction.org, liquid meth is the newest form of methamphetamine that is surfacing in many areas across the United States. Manufacturers of this highly toxic drug are beginning to dissolve meth in water to liquefy the drug; liquid meth is quickly becoming popular with many meth dealers because it has made transporting the toxic drug so much easier.
Individuals who manufacture meth will frequently place this liquid form of the drug in various liquor bottles, which are commonly seen at different ports of entry. Individuals will boil away the water after the liquid meth has passed inspection and been shipped to its destination, leaving only the solid form of meth.
CBP seized 191,000 pounds of methamphetamine in 2021, according to the CPB Drug Seizure Statistics. Marijuana accounted for the most weight in illicit drugs seized at U.S. borders that year, followed by Khat (a stimulant drug used as a tea or chewable paste, smoked, or sprinkled on food, according to the U.S. DEA) with 203,000 pounds sized, and methamphetamine, with the third-largest weight.
Thus far, in 2022, 87,500 pounds of Khat have been seized, followed by methamphetamine at 77,900 pounds, and marijuana at 67,100 pounds.
CBP says no arrests were immediately made in the liquid meth case, and the case remains under investigation.
