Border officials encountered 'inoperable destructive device' at Arizona border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel encountered an "inoperable destructive device" in an Arizona border town while inspecting vehicles, a CBP statement reveals.

"On May 6, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the Area Port of Douglas, Arizona conducting secondary vehicle inspections encountered an inoperable destructive device," a CBP spokesperson confirmed to Just the News.

"Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) was contacted to inspect the device. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was contacted and responded to the port to interview the subject," the CBP statement continued. "A complete search of the vehicle was conducted after AZDPS had removed the destructive device with no additional items located. Please contact HSI and AZDPS for additional information. "

NewsNation journalist Ali Bradley first shared the CBP statement on Twitter along with photos of the IED, saying it was "made using an M&M container with electrical tape. Blue and red wires were exposed at the end of the container."

The identity of the device's possessor remains unknown as of press time.

News of the device comes amid fears of a migration surge at the southern border with the end of the Title 42 order that authorities had used to swiftly deport migrants should they hail from countries known to host a communicable disease.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.