Airport officials uncovered a massive drug supply after noticing a motorized wheelchair that didn't look right.
12 kilograms of cocaine was recovered from inside of a motorized wheelchair in El Paso, Texas after officials ran it through an x-ray machine due to its suspicious appearance.
On Sept. 17, officers at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport noticed that the cushions on a motorized wheelchair were larger than normal, and that the chair's metal compartment was inconsistent with its seat frame, sparking further investigation.
When an x-ray revealed 11 packages of an unknown substance concealed within the seat and backrest of the chair, drug sniffing K9s confirmed that the packages contained narcotics, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced on Wednesday.
"CBP remains diligent in our efforts to protect our borders and keep Americans safe," said Kayla Gonzales, CBP acting Area Port Director. "Cocaine is a deadly, dangerous drug and the trafficking of these poisons leads to increased violence, money laundering, and other criminal activity that threatens our safety and local communities."
The case was referred to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) by CBP.
This comes as law enforcement throughout the nation has seen increased cases of seizures and overdoses involving cocaine combined with fentanyl, according to CBP. The organization seized just over 60 kilograms of cocaine at and between Ports of Entry (POE) in the Fiscal Year 2024.
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