CBP Apprehends Three El Paso Siblings Smuggling Drugs

El Paso, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso port of entry seized 130 pounds of marijuana in one seizure Tuesday. Three El Paso siblings who were in the vehicle in which the drugs were discovered drugs were taken into custody.

The seizure was made shortly after 4 a.m. at the Ysleta international crossing when a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 with three occupants arrived from Mexico. A CBP officer performing the primary inspection received a negative declaration from the occupants of the truck. CBP drug sniffing dog “Udo” alerted to the vehicle during the primary inspection so CBP officers initiated a secondary exam on the vehicle. During the exam the CBP officers located a hidden compartment in the floor of the truck. The compartment held 120 marijuana-filled bundles.

CBP officers took custody of the three occupants including the driver, 24-year-old Porfirio Devora, 23-year-old passenger Rosio Devora Aguayo, and 22-year-old passenger Richard Devora. The three El Paso siblings were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement HSI special agents to face federal charges in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.

“CBP officers encounter a wide variety of people attempting to smuggle drugs,” said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Port Director. “Nevertheless it is unusual to see a case where three siblings are all arrested in a single incident. This illustrates why CBP officers must remain vigilant and professional in every encounter they have with members of the traveling public.”

CBP officers working at area ports of entry made three additional marijuana seizures Tuesday confiscating 166 pounds of the drug. They also recorded eight immigration violations, apprehended four wanted people, made two agricultural seizures, identified two export violations and made one currency seizure during the 24-hour period. While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission routinely results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.

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.