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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered more than 16 pounds of fentanyl – with an estimated street value of nearly $240,000 – hidden inside an electric moped attempting to enter the U.S. at the southern border, authorities said.
CBP said a 22-year-old Mexican national is facing federal charges following the seizure earlier this month.
Officials said the man was driving a 2024 Revoo electric moped when he applied for admission into the United States on Aug. 3 and was referred for a secondary inspection.
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According to CBP, officers used a nonintrusive imaging system that detected anomalies beneath the rear of the moped.
After a CBP canine alerted officers to the area, a physical inspection uncovered seven packages containing 16.53 pounds of white fentanyl powder with an estimated street value of $238,032.
“Smugglers are employing innovative tactics to smuggle lethal drugs into the country,” San Ysidro Port Director Mariza Marin said in a statement.
“Despite these challenges, officers remain vigilant while effectively utilizing their training, canine resources, and nonintrusive technology to thwart these smuggling attempts,” Marin added.
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CBP officers seized the fentanyl, moped, a GPS tracker and a cellphone.
The driver was arrested and will face federal prosecution for narcotics importation, officials said.
The seizure comes after CBP officers stopped two separate vehicles and confiscated more than $300,000 worth of narcotics in a single day in May.
Officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry referred a 2013 Honda Civic for secondary inspection on May 17 after a scan detected anomalies in the vehicle’s firewall.
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Officials discovered six packages containing white fentanyl powder worth an estimated $113,600, along with 8.4 pounds of cocaine valued at approximately $161,600.
That same day at the Calexico East Port of Entry, about 100 miles away, officers referred a 2011 Nissan Cube for secondary inspection.
A scan detected anomalies in the vehicle’s flooring, where officers subsequently discovered 63 packages of methamphetamine, according to CBP.
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Fox News Digital’s Leo Briceno contributed to this report.