SerpApi.Org
Federal officers seized more than 22 kilograms of fentanyl hidden inside the spare tire of a pickup truck at a Texas border crossing this month, leading to the arrest of a U.S. citizen attempting to enter the country from Mexico.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said officers at the Presidio Port of Entry uncovered 22.4 kilograms of fentanyl during a July 15 inspection after nonintrusive inspection technology detected anomalies in the vehicle's spare tire, prompting a secondary inspection that uncovered packages containing the drug. The driver of the 2018 Dodge Ram pickup truck was arrested and now faces federal drug importation and possession with intent to distribute charges.
According to officials, the driver was trying to enter the United States during the early morning hours, having crossed the border from Ojinaga, Mexico.
“The vigilance of our Customs and Border Protection officers have resulted in a significant seizure of the highly addictive and dangerous narcotic fentanyl. I am glad we prevented it from reaching our streets,” said Director Ray Provencio of the El Paso Field Office. “This seizure underscores why we must make the necessary investment in CBP to have trained officers and technology on our borders to protect the American people.”
In 2025, the CDC reported 38,084 American overdose deaths due to fentanyl, and in 2024, that number was 49,913.
