EL PASO, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 22.4 kilograms — approximately 49 pounds — of fentanyl at the Presidio Port of Entry on July 15, according to the agency.
According to CBP, officers at the Presidio Port of Entry discovered the fentanyl concealed inside the spare tire of a 2018 Dodge Ram pickup truck during the early morning hours. The driver, a male U.S. citizen, was applying for entry into the United States after crossing from Ojinaga, Mexico, the agency said. Nonintrusive inspection technology revealed anomalies in the truck’s spare tire, prompting a referral to secondary inspection, according to CBP. Officers found packages of fentanyl during a physical inspection of the tire.
The driver was arrested and taken into custody, according to CBP, and has been charged with violations of 21 U.S.C. § 952 for importation of controlled substances and 21 U.S.C. § 841 for possession with intent to distribute. The driver was not named in the release and is charged, not convicted.
“The vigilance of our Customs and Border Protection officers have resulted in a significant seizure of the highly addictive and dangerous narcotic fentanyl. I am glad we prevented it from reaching our streets,” Director Ray Provencio of the El Paso Field Office said in a statement. “This seizure underscores why we must make the necessary investment in CBP to have trained officers and technology on our borders to protect the American people.”
About fentanyl
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl was responsible for 49,913 overdose deaths in the United States in 2024 and 38,084 in 2025, according to the release. The synthetic opioid is significantly more potent than heroin and has been the leading driver of the American overdose crisis in recent years.
Anyone with information about suspicious activity at ports of entry can report it to CBP by calling 1-800-635-2509.
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
