C.B.P. News Release

Officers at Calexico Ports Seize More than a Half Million Dollars Worth of Narcotics in 1 Day

(Monday, August 03, 2009)

Calexico, Calif – In one day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico ports of entry stopped three narcotic smuggling attempts worth over a half million dollars from coming into the U.S., officials announced today.

The latest seizure occurred on Sunday, August 2, at about 2:15 p.m. at the Calexico downtown port of entry when port officers arrested a 37-year-old male Mexican citizen who attempted to smuggle 45 pounds of cocaine concealed in a tan 2003 Dodge Caravan he was driving.

The driver, who was waiting in line to be inspected, was escorted to the secondary examination area after a canine alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary enforcement operation.

At the secondary examination area, an intense physical inspection led officers to the discovery of 17 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed inside the vehicle’s rear quarter panels. The weight of the narcotics was 45 pounds with a street value of $405,000.

The driver, a resident of Mexicali, was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for further processing for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt. CBP seized both the narcotics and vehicle.

The second seizure occurred on the same day at about 10:45 a.m. at the Calexico East port of entry when a 39-year-old female U.S. citizen driving a black 2008 Dodge Avenger was referred to the secondary examination area for further processing.

At the examination area, CBP officers were conducting a secondary enforcement operation when a detector dog alerted to the vehicle. Officers conducted an intense examination on the vehicle that resulted in the discovery of 15 wrapped packages of methamphetamine concealed in the floor area. The weight of the narcotics was 20 pounds with a street value of $210,000.

The driver, a resident of Phoenix, Ariz., was arrested for the alleged smuggling attempt and turned over to ICE for further investigation and CBP seized both the narcotics and vehicle.

The third seizure occurred at about 6:45 a.m. at the Calexico East port of entry when officers arrested a 47-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a white 2006 Volkswagen Bora. A canine alert in the secondary examination area led officers to the discovery of eight packages of cocaine concealed in the vehicle’s floor area near the center console.

The weight of the narcotics was 17 pounds with a street value of $153,000. The driver, a resident of Mexicali, was turned over to the custody of ICE agents. CBP seized both the narcotics and vehicle.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release
John M. Campos
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (760) 768-2625 or
(760) 802-6488

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2009_3.xml