Puerto Rico agents nab heroin smuggler on Dominican flight

San Juan, Puerto Rico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection(CBP) Field Operations Officers seized 292 grams of heroin at the Luis MunozMarin International Airport on Sunday. The estimated value of the seized narcotics is US$38,000.

During an inbound passenger inspection on a flight arrivingfrom the Dominican Republic, a female passenger, citizen of the United Stateswith residency in Caguas, Puerto Rico, was selected for a baggage exam. The passenger was escorted to a CBP baggagesecondary inspection area, where what appeared to be narcotics werediscovered. Field test of the substancerevealed it to be heroin.

“Customs and Border Protection Officers have theexperience, training and ability to intercept those that attempt to smuggledrugs and other harmful items into the country” stated San Juan Area PortDirector Edwin Cruz. “This successfulinterdiction demonstrates our officers’ unwavering commitment to maintain ourborders secure.”

CBP uses sophisticated methods to identify and targetpotentially high-risk passengers and cargo, including advanced electronicinformation about every passenger and cargo shipment entering into the U.S.before their arrival, canine inspections and non-intrusive devices.

CBP officers contacted Homeland Security Investigation(HSI) Special Agents, who responded and arrested the passenger.

CBP Office of Field Operations’ dual mission is tofacilitate travel in the United States while we secure our borders, our peopleand our visitors from those that would do us harm like terrorists and terroristweapons, criminals, and contraband.