NEW SCOPE AIDS IN ROMA COCAINE BUST

Customs inspectors discover $3 million in drugs in gas tank

U.S. Customs Service inspectors armed with a new high-tech scope discovered
more than $3 million worth of cocaine allegedly stashed in the gas tank of
a pickup near Roma, officials said Tuesday.

The fiber-optic scope, which looks like a hose, and is carried in a
backpack, enabled inspectors to snoop in the tank where they reportedly
found 74 pounds of the illicit white powder.

"High-tech equipment is making our job easier by detecting loads with
amazing accuracy," said Cris Cantu, port director for Customs in Roma. "It
helps us interdict more narcotics."

Inspectors searching a truck, which was entering this country from Mexico
Monday, noticed the gas tank showed signs of tampering, according to
officials.

After probing its depths with the scope, they found 24 plastic- wrapped
bundles of white powder, and arrested the driver, Ismael Rodriguez, 26, of
Houston.

Rodriguez was brought before a federal magistrate in McAllen Tuesday and
charged with possession with attempt to distribute cocaine.

He was ordered held in Starr County Jail pending a detention hearing set
for Friday.

The Monday bust marked the first seizure in Roma for the $13,000 scope,
which has been in use there for about a month, Customs supervisor Gilbert
Ramirez said.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan