In the latest episode of Borderforce USA Season 7, viewers are plunged into the heart of critical customs enforcement operations. This installment showcases the relentless dedication of officers as they navigate complex international challenges at the nation's borders.
Watch as teams intercepting a suspicious shipment uncover a meticulously planned smuggling operation. The episode highlights the ingenuity and swift action required to stay ahead of evolving illicit trade tactics.
Further insights are provided into the sophisticated methods used to detect fraudulent documentation. Officers meticulously examine travel papers, demonstrating their crucial role in safeguarding national security.
Experience the tense moments as officers engage with travelers undergoing routine scrutiny, revealing the diverse range of individuals and goods passing through, each requiring careful assessment.
The episode underscores the unwavering commitment of Borderforce USA personnel to their mission. Their vigilance and expertise are instrumental in upholding the integrity of U.S. borders.
#BorderforceUSA #CustomsEnforcement #USBorderSecurity #TravelDocumentFraud
Watch as teams intercepting a suspicious shipment uncover a meticulously planned smuggling operation. The episode highlights the ingenuity and swift action required to stay ahead of evolving illicit trade tactics.
Further insights are provided into the sophisticated methods used to detect fraudulent documentation. Officers meticulously examine travel papers, demonstrating their crucial role in safeguarding national security.
Experience the tense moments as officers engage with travelers undergoing routine scrutiny, revealing the diverse range of individuals and goods passing through, each requiring careful assessment.
The episode underscores the unwavering commitment of Borderforce USA personnel to their mission. Their vigilance and expertise are instrumental in upholding the integrity of U.S. borders.
#BorderforceUSA #CustomsEnforcement #USBorderSecurity #TravelDocumentFraud
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Short filmTranscript
00:06all travelers are subject to ID checks when entering the United States what's going on
00:12today guys we're brought you out of Mexico allowing Customs and Border Protection officers
00:16to quickly determine if any are wanted criminals next whoever's paying attention look at the camera
00:23here take a step back is that how it is your son 15 okay right there stand right there for
00:28me at the
00:30progresso bridge a woman returning from Mexico has been flagged in the system we just have
00:38supported a female subject from the vehicle secondaries she might have an active warrant
00:42I believe that they went out there shopping and dental and now they're heading back home
00:53the subject is being non-cooperative she's very amped up and she's giving us a hard time
01:05here we go
01:07there's no point in Connie right now if you have no idea where you're going
01:20to confirm her identity and verify the warrant officer Escalon needs to take the woman's
01:30fingerprints
01:30ma'am I'm gonna take your fingerprints just relax you've been in trouble before
01:39look at my record
01:40what about it
01:45just bear with us man we're just trying to get this process going
01:50have a seat ma'am I'm gonna escort you to the seat if you don't sit down
01:59and sit down stay there don't ever get up without being told to
02:18we have to do what we have to do
02:41eagle pass port of entry is one of the busiest border crossings in North America
02:51an estimated 6.5 million pedestrians and vehicles passed through each year they'll bring in anything
02:58back to Mexico we have two cases up here there you go thank you have a nice day
03:05drug cartels are known to conceal narcotics within ordinary looking vehicles creating hidden
03:11compartments to avoid detection by CBP officers big vehicles such as SUVs or pickup trucks have larger
03:20wheels and tires so the cartels you get two or three vehicles of the same making model do the same
03:26compartment and start to try and smuggle narcotics into the country so once we pop one we start looking
03:32at the same year range and making models this afternoon a driver of an SUV who claims to be visiting
03:42the U.S. for three days has raised suspicions
03:45she was just trying to distract me so I wouldn't ask her any questions she had no luggage she had
03:53a high heels
03:54a water jug and trash with all the red flags that she has I'm gonna send her for a sea
03:59portal inspection
04:01while the woman is detained her vehicle is sent for an x-ray
04:13nominees on the right rear quarter panel and the left rear quarter panel sometimes it could be water bottles
04:21sometimes it could be just trash that they have all right let's take a look with suspicious shapes appearing
04:27on the image officers carry out a physical inspection so he said that the anomalies were possibly on the left
04:35and on the right quarter panel
04:36so we're gonna check real quick
04:42I mean we see that there's missing bolts as you can see right there
04:48there it is
04:49we got bundles
04:51let me take a look over here real quick too
04:59there it is we got more
05:01yeah let's go
05:05having found what looks like drugs
05:07officers moved the car to a secure area to continue the search
05:14let's do it
05:19there's more over here though
05:227, 8, 9, 10
05:301, 2, 3, 4, 5
05:35so, so far we have a total of 15 packages
05:38mind us
05:40we're probably going to find one
05:411, 2, 2, 1, 2
05:55s4, 2
05:55Improgresso
05:57ma, let's have a seat
05:59and sit down
06:00stay there
06:01don't ever get up
06:02no, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
06:032, 3, 4, 5
06:10I'm telling you
06:11The subject is being non-cooperative.
06:13She's very amped up, and she's giving us a hard time.
06:18After attempting to make a break for it,
06:21officers have put the woman back in the cells.
06:28It's on the fingerprints.
06:29OK.
06:30She'll direct the warrant.
06:31OK, perfect.
06:34With her fingerprints matching the arrest warrant,
06:37Officer Escalon receives information
06:39from the Houston Sheriff's Office
06:42that she's wanted on multiple counts
06:43for possession of drugs.
06:46It seems like they are willing to extradite.
06:48We're going to try to process her as quick as we can
06:51and turn her over to the state local.
06:52This is not her first time.
06:54She stated before that she had an extensive rap sheet,
06:56so she knows the ropes here.
07:03Back in the cell, the woman shows no sign of calming down.
07:12Yes, ma'am.
07:13Can I get a call?
07:14Not at the moment.
07:16And will only be permitted a phone call
07:18once she has been transferred to local police.
07:21We're going to get a call once you...
07:22I remember being booked, and I had my first call.
07:25Can I get a call?
07:25Yes, ma'am.
07:25Once you get transported to the agency,
07:27that they're going to pick you up,
07:28then you'll receive your call.
07:29Yes, ma'am.
07:30So what?
07:31So what?
07:32No, I'm asking, so what's going on?
07:34Yeah, I just explained to you.
07:36They're going to come pick them up.
07:36So once they get here, I'll notify you,
07:38and then they'll take you.
07:38So I'm going to transfer?
07:39Yes, ma'am.
07:40All right?
07:41How much is that going to take?
07:42I don't know, ma'am.
07:42Just bear with us.
07:43We're trying to process as soon as we can.
07:44Can I get a phone?
07:45No.
07:46Can I get a phone?
07:46No.
07:48I got a phone.
07:50No, you cannot get a phone call.
07:51Oh, okay.
07:51Whoever should have to deal with me.
07:53All right.
07:53Well, just chill out.
07:55Ma'am, you're just going to make it hard on yourself.
07:56All right?
07:57I hope so.
07:57Okay.
07:58Why would you hope so?
07:59Because I'm trying to get the out of you, bro.
08:01I know, but we're not the one that put you in this position.
08:03All I'm going to do is give me a phone.
08:04No, ma'am, it's not.
08:06It doesn't work that way.
08:07Wait.
08:07Okay.
08:08Bye.
08:10You can bang all you want, but nobody's
08:11going to get your call, ma'am.
08:12Bye.
08:13Yeah.
08:16Local police arrived to take the woman to county jail,
08:20where she'll be held until extradited 350 miles
08:23to Houston.
08:24If later found guilty of the drug offenses,
08:27then she could face up to 10 years in jail.
08:52At Eagle Pass International Bridge.
08:55Seven, eight, nine, ten.
08:58There's more over here.
09:00Officers have discovered what appears to be a large stash
09:03of narcotics hidden in a vehicle entering the United States.
09:07One, two, three, four, five.
09:10So far, we have a total of 15 targets.
09:14Mind this.
09:15We're probably going to find one.
09:19Wait, you don't think the tire is the spare?
09:22Look at the tire.
09:22It's not even a tire that it goes in.
09:26Officer Estrada suspects there's even more drugs
09:29concealed inside the spare wheel.
09:32I'm about to check the spare tire right there.
09:34It's definitely a red flag just because of the fact
09:36that it's not the same, right?
09:37It looks like it's a different type of tire.
09:46Is it going down?
09:47Is it going down?
09:48Nah, man.
09:49That's not moving.
09:50Maybe I have to cut it.
09:52We tried, bro.
09:55Officers must find a way of getting into the tire.
10:06If there are drugs inside and a packet is broken,
10:11as well as damaging evidence, it could risk harming the officers.
10:36I think this is, um, this is coke, yeah.
10:39It's coke.
10:43Ready?
10:44It's a boy.
10:53It's a boy.
10:56As of right now, it's 6-4, but there's still a lot more in here.
11:04I'm in the shower right now.
11:08There's a lot more, bro.
11:09They're all stuck.
11:10They're like all stuck.
11:13Officer Barrera takes over.
11:15And they're super good.
11:16Yeah, they're super, super good.
11:23And removes the final package.
11:2617 in the tire, which seems to be, like, mixed drugs
11:29because they feel different.
11:30So the ones over here feel like some sort of crystal meth,
11:33and these look like cocaine.
11:35Officers aren't convinced they found everything, though,
11:38and bring in a canine.
11:45The dog alerts to the floor of the trunk.
11:47Good lord.
11:49Right under the car.
11:51Where more packages are discovered.
11:53That was a good load, guys.
11:54Good job.
11:55So in that extra compartment, they just found
11:57another 22 packages.
12:00Along with the 32 already found,
12:03today's seizure totals 54 bundles of narcotics.
12:08So I've been here only a year and a couple months.
12:11But for me, personally, this is the thing that I've been on.
12:14We're still going to measure everything out,
12:15weigh everything out, and test every single package.
12:20This is heavy.
12:21Let's go that way, though.
12:22I'll follow you.
12:40Jail 5 and 7, roger.
12:43Anything you're bringing back with you
12:44other than your personal belongings?
12:46All right, boss.
12:46Take care.
12:48With an estimated 393 million privately owned firearms,
12:53the United States has the highest rate of gun ownership
12:56in the world.
12:58But without special permission, transporting firearms
13:02across a federal border is strictly forbidden
13:05and can result in criminal charges.
13:08Any alcohol, tobacco, firearms in the vehicle?
13:11You guys are all set.
13:13You have a good day.
13:14At the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel,
13:16Officer Watson is working with an American delivery driver
13:20who has refused entry into Canada
13:22after a rifle was found in his van.
13:25This individual was sent back.
13:27He was trying to go to Canada, and I believe he's trying
13:30to make a delivery, but they refused his entry
13:32because he has a makeshift firearm in the back.
13:41Ah, look.
13:42There it is, too.
13:47See, there's no source of ammunition.
13:51I don't know if there's going to be any documentation for that.
13:54There's no serial numbers.
13:56This one's going to be a little interesting.
14:03What are you doing?
14:04The man, who says the van is also his home,
14:08claims that taking the gun to Canada was an accident.
14:12Pardon?
14:12I had forgotten about half of the stuff I got in there,
14:15so that's why I still have it today.
14:17I thought it was gone.
14:20I can't believe this happening.
14:22Yeah, I mean, you can't take firearms to Canada, boss.
14:25I know.
14:25I didn't even have it.
14:26I didn't even have it.
14:31Officer Watson attempts to identify the unusual firearm.
14:36After making sure the weapon was already safe and clear,
14:39we were able to handle it.
14:40It's definitely home modified, maybe not homemade,
14:43but this was an actual functioning firearm
14:47that he looks like he modified himself
14:50with paracord and some piece of rubber.
14:58Although the weapon appears makeshift,
15:00since it's still technically a working firearm,
15:04the man is committed an offense by transporting it
15:07through a federal border.
15:09Once he gets outside, ask him a little more
15:11about the weapon, because there's nothing,
15:15I mean, there's no way to truly identify it.
15:18This is going to be an interesting thing.
15:32There's a window right there, bro.
15:35I think this is, um, this is Coke.
15:37This is Coke.
15:37That's Coke.
15:37In Eagle Pass...
15:39Right under the carpet.
15:42CBP officers have seized 54 packages
15:45of suspected narcotics stashed inside an SUV.
15:55With the drugs hidden across multiple parts of the vehicle,
15:59officers believe there could still be more.
16:02These cars are disgusting, man.
16:04Yeah.
16:05You all are good, so we can scan it again.
16:07OK.
16:08Let's go.
16:08And want reassurance that nothing has been missed.
16:19There's no more anomalies.
16:2354 packages is a lot of drugs for one vehicle.
16:27The X-ray confirms that the car has been completely stripped
16:31of all remaining contraband,
16:32and officers can begin processing the load.
16:36OK.
16:37So we're still going to measure everything out,
16:39weigh everything out.
16:40They suspect that the three types of packages
16:43contain three different types of drugs.
16:47So right now what we're doing is we're going to get our test
16:50kits going, and we get a more definitive answer
16:55of what we're working with right now.
16:56They use a laser detection device
16:58to accurately identify each type,
17:01starting with the rectangular bricks.
17:09OK.
17:12So the Gemini tested positive for cocaine hydrochloride,
17:16so it is cocaine.
17:18Next, they test a rounder package,
17:21wrapped in black tape.
17:23So on the way it fell, it was a little bit more crystalline.
17:25So right now we assume that crystal meth.
17:282.6 million Americans, ages 12 and up,
17:32report using methamphetamines every year,
17:35and it accounts for the majority of deaths
17:37caused by narcotic overdoses.
17:41Methamphetamine, yep.
17:42So it's methamphetamine, hydrochloride,
17:44so yes, it's a meth, what we suspected it was.
17:47Finally, Officer Barrera tests the cylindrical package,
17:51wrapped with yellow tape.
17:52And upon removing the layers and him pulling it out,
17:56you got a black, like, super sticky substance.
18:00We're going to go ahead and run it to our narco patches.
18:03A sticky black consistency is a sign
18:06that the third drug could be heroin.
18:08If the test pouch turns green, it's a positive match.
18:13Calmao, brother. Easy.
18:15Calmao, brother. Easy, you know.
18:18Jetpack, I got heroin.
18:19Yep, green.
18:20Thank you, sir.
18:22Positive for heroin, black tar.
18:26Black tar is an unrefined, impure form of heroin,
18:30teeming with dangerous chemicals.
18:32It's even more deadly to users.
18:34In total, we got 62 kilograms of drugs
18:37off the streets today.
18:38Big win.
18:39Protect our kids, protect our neighborhoods.
18:41It's always, it always feels good.
18:43The hall has an estimated street value of $1.7 million.
18:48It's a huge win for Officer Barrera and his team.
18:53One, two, three.
18:55While the officers have something to celebrate,
18:58the party is over for the driver of the vehicle.
19:02She is handed over to Homeland Security Investigations,
19:05who will take over the case.
19:07If found guilty of trafficking such a large quantity
19:11of narcotics, she could face up to life in prison.
19:24On the northern bank of the Rio Grande
19:27sits the U.S. city of Brownsville.
19:41Across the river in Mexico is Matamoros,
19:45a stronghold for organized crime,
19:48where Mexican cartels use fleets of vehicles
19:50to carry out cross-border smuggling.
19:53When someone's lying to you, you can kind of tell.
19:56And when they're telling you the truth,
19:57it just kind of flows out as natural.
20:00Four?
20:00Four?
20:01OK.
20:01And why so much detergent?
20:03But for the most part, you hear the same thing
20:05over and over again.
20:05Going shopping, bringing back minuscule items.
20:09But how they say it, that's what's real.
20:11That's what you're looking for.
20:11That's the pattern you're trying to pick up on.
20:18How's it going, sir?
20:19Want to talk to this?
20:20Try to buy yourself, sir.
20:22The vehicle, is it registered under your name?
20:25Anybody else?
20:27Tonight, at the Brownsville Gateway Bridge,
20:31a woman has been selected for a random inspection.
20:46Officers quickly find items that arouse suspicion.
20:49Is it all yours?
20:51Yeah, it's a cartel.
20:53Absolutely.
20:54Cartels reuse license plates across different vehicles
20:58to confuse detection systems and disrupt CBP operations.
21:04Concerned this woman could be involved
21:06in some kind of smuggling, officers
21:08need to investigate more.
21:10How much money do you get?
21:11I got $100.
21:13You're welcome.
21:13You're welcome.
21:14You're welcome.
21:15You're welcome.
21:15You're welcome.
21:17Large amounts of cash can be linked
21:19to criminal activity.
21:21But the woman says she only has $250.
21:27Can I see your back, please?
21:29You don't have anything in your pockets?
21:31No.
21:33You said what, $20?
21:3511.
21:40Back pocket's nothing.
21:41Can you get up, please?
21:44Go back home.
21:46What's back here?
21:47Is that your fault?
21:52Hidden in the woman's back pocket
21:54is a stack of $100 bills.
21:57Yeah, I forgot about that.
21:58OK.
21:59We're going to go inside.
22:02Any currency over $10,000 must be declared.
22:06If she's carrying more, she could face federal prosecution.
22:27At the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
22:29Ah, look.
22:30There it is, too.
22:37Officers are investigating an unusual firearm
22:39found in the back of a van.
22:41This one's going to be a little interesting.
22:43OK.
22:44The driver has a delivery to make across the border
22:47in Canada, but his homemade rifle caught him
22:50in the crosshairs of CBP.
22:53Why were you trying to go to Canada today?
22:55I have, this needs to be delivered
22:56to the Chrysler-Windsor place.
22:59All right, do you have any paperwork at all for that fire?
23:01No, sir.
23:02I'd say no.
23:02I'd say self-modified, self-made?
23:04Somebody tried to shoot my dad with it,
23:06and he grabbed it and jerked it away from him,
23:09and then he broke it.
23:10So I kind of made it so I could shoot it from like that
23:13with a pistol, and I used to shoot hogs with it.
23:16Where was home for you?
23:19Like Koontz, Texas, but I sold my house in Koontz.
23:23I put a dollar through college, through law school.
23:25So when I sold the house and moved out to my mom
23:28and dad's farm out in Sperger, Texas.
23:31OK, how long have you been on the road?
23:33Probably about six months.
23:35OK.
23:35My mom died last year, and I just,
23:39I really didn't have nothing left.
23:41Well, I'm sorry for your loss, boss.
23:42I'm sorry to hear about your mom.
23:43That was about the last thing I took.
23:46I was bringing them around with me.
23:48I thought it was gone.
23:50Fortunately for this driver,
23:51the officer is satisfied it was an honest mistake.
23:55All right, boss.
23:56Well, I'm going to put that back in the van.
23:58We'll get you out of your way, OK?
24:00God bless you.
24:01All right.
24:01Oh.
24:02But the gun will need to be disposed of
24:05before he tries to cross the border again.
24:08So I put it on the side.
24:10That way, when he gets to wherever he's going here in Michigan,
24:12that he can drop it off at or properly dispose of.
24:15You know, a couple of our police stations will take it from him
24:17and dispose of it.
24:19Everybody's got stories.
24:20So thankfully, in this case, it's just a guy trying
24:22to make a living.
24:24Has an unusual story for a firearm that he's got with him.
24:28But other than that, everything is good to go.
24:32All right, sir, you're good to grab your dog and get in the van, OK?
24:37Years ago, I used to have, like, 10 or 12 guns.
24:40But, you know, I used to hunt deer and hunt game and everything.
24:44And when my daughter got in college, I had to sell everything.
24:48And that was the last one I had.
24:50I hadn't even fired it, like, in 10 years.
24:53I don't want it.
24:55But I'm not going to make sure.
24:56I may just take it to the police department and give it to them.
24:58Because I don't want anybody to get a hold of it
25:00and be able to do anything with it.
25:02The man has been spared a penalty and is sent on his way.
25:22You mean coffee?
25:23Thank you, thanks, my friend.
25:29What's back here?
25:30Ain't that your call?
25:33Back in Brownsville, a woman is being questioned after a search found multiple license plates
25:41in her vehicle and a large sum of money in her possession.
25:48Failure to declare cash over $10,000 is a federal crime, which can result in a fine or prosecution.
26:01Yeah, I forgot it because it's my death.
26:03Okay, so how much money do you have?
26:05$5,000?
26:07Yeah.
26:08Just there.
26:13$220, $250, get in here.
26:16Ma'am, so how much money do you have in total?
26:18Like $250 and $255.
26:20So $5,250.
26:23Okay, so we're just going to verify that you have that amount?
26:26Okay, so let's go in tight.
26:29Do you have any more money in the vehicle?
26:31No.
26:31No?
26:32Are you sure?
26:33No.
26:33Okay.
26:34The woman is taken inside to determine why she has so much cash and why she concealed it.
26:41She amended her declaration at the last second.
26:44It's a red flag when they don't declare it on primary, and then they do declare it on secondary.
26:49We get that a lot.
26:50We get people who come across, say, how much money are you bringing over?
26:53Uh, I don't know, but I'm pretty sure I know exactly what I have on my person.
26:58You know, with a couple questions and an interview, we could get to the bottom of things.
27:02Officers suspect the woman could be working for a cartel, driving vehicles with false license plates to be used in
27:10smuggling activities.
27:17Since any currency over $10,000 must be declared, the cash is counted.
27:23What was the cash for again?
27:25I'm going to buy a car.
27:26They're going to buy a car.
27:27Okay.
27:28Do you know where you're going to buy a car?
27:30Rainville.
27:31My dad, they buy a car.
27:33Your dad's, like, business?
27:35Nothing.
27:35Your dad's business?
27:36He just buys cars.
27:36He just buys cars?
27:38Can you just walk me through the process of what you do with the cars usually?
27:42Well, it's because sometimes, like, there are, like, um, like, cars that my uncle buys and just sells on the
27:49left.
27:49What's your uncle's name?
27:52Hmm.
27:53What's your uncle's name?
27:54Well, I don't think it's a little bit.
27:56Why wouldn't you?
27:58I'm sure we already have it, but...
28:03I don't know.
28:04What's that?
28:05Okay.
28:05Okay.
28:05Super common name.
28:08How did you get the two plates they found in your position?
28:11Oh, I found them.
28:12You found them?
28:13Yeah.
28:13I collect them.
28:15Is there a rhyme or reason?
28:16Like, you just like different states?
28:18Yeah.
28:19Just whatever.
28:19Looks good?
28:20Yeah.
28:22Where do you get them from usually?
28:23Like, junkyards or...
28:24Yeah.
28:25Scrapyards?
28:26Yeah.
28:27The total is $5,295.
28:30Okay.
28:30The undeclared money is below the $10,000 limit.
28:35Well, we'll take care of some stuff and then we'll have you out here, okay?
28:41Despite officers' suspicions, there's no hard evidence that the woman is doing anything illegal.
28:47She'll be released, but not before the license plates are seized.
28:52She's gonna keep all her money, minus the license plates, but she'll be on her way.
28:59If the woman crosses in the future, she will need to be more careful about what she is taking with
29:06her.
29:08She's a regular and...
29:10Yeah.
29:10We see her often.
29:25Hello, ma'am.
29:28Hello, ma'am.
29:37What's the best thing you brought these, miss?
29:40It's been about three months ago.
29:42But lower prices in Mexico fuel a black market, with people illegally smuggling cheap medicine back into the U.S.
29:51All right.
29:51Have they ever explained to you about these medications?
29:53Uh, yes.
29:54That's once a month, all right?
29:57You have a good day.
30:00This afternoon in Progreso, a man has been detained after Officer Trevino found suspicious packages in the trunk of his
30:08car.
30:09He was very nervous, and I could tell, like, he wasn't giving me a lot of eye contact.
30:15And I asked him what he was bringing back.
30:17And he said, oh, just cookies and chips and treats for my family members over here in the U.S.
30:22And I was, oh, okay.
30:23So I opened the trunk.
30:25It was like this.
30:28So when I grabbed one, they felt different.
30:33Usually with the crackers, you could feel whenever you push it, you could break the cracker.
30:36And not this.
30:37This is very hard.
30:39You could tell the packages were altered, because they were ripped.
30:43When we opened them, this is what we got.
30:48Medication.
30:52This one, too.
30:53Pills, Xanax, Acción.
30:56Pretty much everything.
30:57They're full to the rim.
30:58All the pills are controlled substances in the United States.
31:02And a lot of times what they do this is because family members don't have jobs in the U.S.
31:07And they rely on selling medication in flea markets, on Marketplace, on Facebook, just to make, you know, extra money,
31:17which is illegal.
31:19So right now we took him inside, he's being fingerprinted, and they're going to see if they're going to prosecute
31:23him.
31:25Smuggling more than 50 pills of a controlled substance can carry a penalty of up to five years in prison.
31:33The man's fingerprints are taken to see if he has a criminal history.
31:41He has a clean record, but reveals something shocking about his profession.
31:49The subject stated that he is a general doctor in Mexico.
31:54I can only assume is that he is selling this medication to people over here in the United States.
32:04This quantity of prescription medications could be worth thousands of dollars on the black market in the U.S.
32:11If the man is selling them, he faces losing his medical license, as well as jail time.
32:33The Ambassador Bridge is North America's busiest commercial artery, facilitating 25% of all U.S.-Canada trade.
32:43Hi, how are you? How many? Two.
32:46Any weapons or firearms? No, sir.
32:49Have a good evening, okay? Take care, bye.
32:53It's also a popular crossing for artists and musical acts.
32:57It's super diverse, all different walks of life coming across the bridge every day.
33:00It definitely helps to know the surrounding area, because if somebody tells you they're going to a concert that's not
33:05here,
33:06and they say it's here, obviously they're lying about something.
33:08So it kind of heightens our awareness and what to look for.
33:15This afternoon, a touring band attempting to get across into Canada has been sent back to CBP officers in Detroit.
33:24We are Deaf by Romy. I'm Deaf by Romy's manager. We got turned around in Canada because we didn't have
33:31a stamp in our carnet for all of our audio equipment.
33:34A permit known as a carnet allows expensive equipment to enter a country for a limited time without paying import
33:42duty.
33:43With errors in the band's paperwork, officers must further investigate.
33:48Anytime somebody's returned back from Canada, we do our routine inspection here.
33:52So we're going to go through the van here, go through the trailer that they're pulling.
33:56The band's performance is scheduled to start in just a few hours.
34:00But for now, they're going nowhere.
34:03We don't want to get stopped and have to cancel the show. That's the worst case scenario.
34:08The clock is ticking, but Officer Lowe must check that the band has accounted for every piece of equipment on
34:15their carnet.
34:18So it's an inventory of what they've taken out of the country and bringing it back into the country.
34:23It's like they're not bringing something in, like skipping out on paying taxes or duty on.
34:27It's like an expensive guitar there. So it's just them showing that, hey, I bought this here in the States,
34:33I didn't buy this in another country, and I'm bringing it back.
34:37While Officer Lowe continues to inspect the contents of the tour bus,
34:42officers inside assist with the band's paperwork.
34:46So when you go to Canada, tell them that you have a carnet.
34:50We did all of that already and then they just sent us.
34:54Oh, they refused you guys because if you turn the carnet in and you're missing any of the blocks in
35:02it,
35:02they can actually fine you for not exporting or importing properly.
35:07And the fines can be pretty hefty from what we hear.
35:10So it's actually to your benefit that they refuse you.
35:13Okay. Well, that was a good thing.
35:15Yeah.
35:17What do you do in the band?
35:18I'm the manager.
35:19How are you?
35:21That's why they left you at the pool bar.
35:23Yeah, exactly. I do all the admin stuff.
35:27And you guys are going to Toronto for your show?
35:29Yeah.
35:30What kind of music is it?
35:32It's like an alternative park.
35:35Where do you play? Like a bar?
35:37We're playing at Adelaide Pool.
35:40Oh, I think I've heard of that. Is that pretty big?
35:42I think it's like 500 cab. It's not huge.
35:45Wow.
35:46With the inspection of the van complete, the necessary amendments are made to the carnet.
35:55So, yeah, just make sure you sign this one, all right?
35:58No, no, no.
36:01Good luck at your show.
36:02Thank you so much.
36:04Yes.
36:04I think it's a big head.
36:06Have a good day.
36:09Group out.
36:11They were great. They were super friendly. It was pretty easy.
36:14Just had to wait around for a while, but it was good.
36:17With the help of the CBP team, the show will go on, and the band can continue their journey
36:23to Toronto for tonight's gig.
36:26So, once they're done with their show, they've got to go back through the process again,
36:29and we're going to see them again tomorrow.
36:43Inprogresso.
36:44So, I opened the trunk. This is what we got. Pills, Xanax, Accion. Pretty much everything.
36:53It's full to the rim.
36:54A doctor from Mexico has been caught attempting to smuggle large quantities of controlled medication into the U.S.
37:04It's easy for somebody to just try to get a hold of a doctor from Mexico and then just get
37:10prescribed something,
37:12and then he brings them over.
37:14We're going to have to count the pills that we have.
37:18All the medication must be identified and counted. The more there are, the stiffer the penalty.
37:33Right now, we're dealing with Accion. This one, they're used mainly for diet and energy, but they do have a
37:41controlled substance.
37:42Officer Robles has also identified Tramadol, Xanax, and a surprising fourth drug, Misoprostol.
37:53The other medication that is used for abortion, that's a new one. We really haven't seen that as much.
38:01It's usually used or prescribed for ulcers. However, if any pregnant female uses it, it can cause abortion of the
38:10fetus.
38:11Following the end of the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, Misoprostol has been increasingly smuggled from Mexico into the
38:21United States to enable self-managed abortions.
38:24The Xanax is going to be 322.06 grams. Oxion is going to be 60.1 grams. Tramadol is going
38:33to be 584.78. And the Misoprostol, 83.79 grams.
38:41This kind of quantity of controlled medications can only mean one thing. But the man is a dealer.
38:50This is an excessive amount, which we can assume this person's trying to smuggling to sell it in the blood
38:57market in the United States.
38:59The profit will probably be very large because one pill of Xanax can be sold for $5, $10.
39:09And I believe we seized. I want to see over 3,000 pills. So that could be a large profit
39:16for this one.
39:17The street value for the Xanax and Tramadol alone is in excess of $53,000. But this man isn't going
39:26to get his payday.
39:29Local law enforcement arrives to take the doctor into custody.
39:34You all have a heart count of all of them, right? Yes. Yes.
39:37So these are the abortion ones, right? Yeah.
39:39Yeah.
39:41450 pills.
39:42Do you all see those alive? Mm-mm. No? No, we don't see them.
39:45They are going to take the subject and present all the evidence. And the judge will decide what the consequence
39:52will be for him.
39:55The doctor is escorted from the cells to be handed over to the state troopers.
40:01They're going to do state prosecution for smuggling this medication into the United States, which is a felony. And also
40:09because he is a Mexican resident with a visa, he will be losing his visa today.
40:12But it's nice.
40:14We're going to take you to our office in McAllen.
40:17Okay.
40:18And then we'll interview you there, talk to you a little bit in regards to what you've got here.
40:22Okay.
40:22And then we'll probably take you to the county jail from there.
40:25But you're going to be charged with the position of these bills.
40:28How long time am I going to spend in that?
40:34With the doctor on his way to county jail, it's been a successful seizure for Officer Robles and the Progreso
40:41CBP team.
41:01We'll see you later.
41:03Bye.
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