Shoppers’ Car Seized After Customs Finds Two 50 Gift Pipes

HOUSTON — A woman whose car was seized at the border because agents found two 50-cent pipes from Mexico in it says that the agency carried “zero tolerance” too far.

A U.S. Customs Service spokesman in Houston confirmed that no drugs had been found but said Teresa Miller’s car was seized last weekend because of “paraphernalia.”

Miller, who lives in suburban Houston, said Wednesday that a friend, Valerie Cantrell, had bought the pipes in Mexico, where the two had gone shopping. Cantrell said the onyx pipes were among several knick-knacks she had purchased and were a gift for a friend.

The seizure, at the U.S. port of entry at Progreso, stemmed from the Administration’s “zero tolerance” policy of confiscating vehicles containing any amount of drugs or drug-related material, customs spokesman Charles Conroy said.

The seizure is being appealed to the district director of customs in Laredo. The women said they were told that the car would be sold at auction if the appeal is rejected.