Imperial Valley News

Santa Teresa, New Mexico - United States Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Santa Teresa port of entry seized 436 pounds of marijuana late Wednesday night. The drugs were concealed in children's furniture. Two New Mexico residents were taken into custody in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.

The seizure was made at approximately 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night after a 1999 Ford F-150 pick up truck entered the port from Mexico. CBP officers selected the vehicle for a secondary inspection. During the exam, CBP drug sniffing dog "Moscoe" alerted to furniture in the bed of the pick up truck.

CBP officers then performed an X-ray scan of the vehicle and furniture and noticed anomalies in the appearance of the furniture. CBP officers dismantled the new furniture and removed a total of 23 marijuana-filled bundles from the shipment. The marijuana weighed 436 pounds.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents arrested two people in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. They include the driver, 43-year-old Darcy Glaser, and the passenger, 19-year-old Nicholas Vasquez. Both suspects are U.S. citizens who reside in Albuquerque, N.M.

The Santa Teresa seizure was the largest of 27 drug busts made by CBP officers working at ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas and New Mexico during this past week (August 1 - August 7). CBP officers seized a total of 3,504 pounds of marijuana in those drug busts. In addition to the drug seizures, area CBP officers this week also recorded dozens of immigration violations, agriculture busts and other violations.