Thread: Agents seize 600 pounds of drugs, arrest 13 fugitives

Agents seize 600 pounds of drugs, arrest 13 fugitives

SOUTH COUNTY: Customs agents seized almost 600 pounds of drugs and arrested 13 wanted fugitives over the three-day weekend at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry, authorities said.

The fugitives were wanted on charges ranging from burglary to child neglect and narcotics, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Angelica De Cima said.

Drug seizures included 20 pounds of methamphetamine found in the sidewall of a 1980 Ford F-150 pickup. The driver, 41, of Tijuana, was arrested after trying to enter the country from Mexico at Otay Mesa about 11 a.m. Monday, De Cima said.

On Saturday, agents at San Ysidro seized 129 pounds of marijuana stashed in the back seat, tool box and engine of a 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by a 58-year-old Garden Grove man about 1:30 a.m. At 8 p.m., agents arrested a driver, 30, from Fullerton, who had 28 pounds of heroin in the rear wheel wells of a 1999 Volkswagen Jetta.

Five other drivers were arrested with marijuana in their cars, De Cima said. Officers also stopped 171 people from entering the United States with false papers or trying to avoid inspection

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Home CBP in San Diego Catch Violators During Labor Day Weekend
Written by Imperial Valley News
Wednesday, 03 September 2008
San Diego, California - Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Port of San Ysidro encountered numerous violations while performing anti-terrorism inspections. Over the Labor Day weekend, CBP officers seized almost 600 pounds of narcotics, discovered dozens of immigration violations, and arrested 13 wanted fugitives.


From Saturday, August 30, through Monday, September 1, CBP officers made six marijuana seizures totaling 544 pounds, one 28 pound heroin seizure, and a methamphetamine seizure of 20 pounds. All eight drivers were arrested in connection with the failed smuggling attempts. The narcotics and vehicles were seized by CBP.

The largest marijuana seizure occurred on Saturday at about 1:30 a.m., at the San Ysidro port of entry after officers found 129 pounds of the drug hidden in the rear seat, tool box, and engine of a 2002 Dodge Dakota pick truck driven by a 58-year-old man from Garden Grove, California.

Later that same day at about 8pm, officers at San Ysidro also discovered 28 pounds of heroin hidden in a 1999 Volkswagen Jetta driven by a 30-year-old man from Fullerton, Calif. The heroin was hidden in a non-factory compartment located in the rear wheel wells of the vehicle.

On Monday at about 11 a.m., officers found 20 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the sidewall of a 1980 Ford F-150 pick up when it came through the Otay Mesa port of entry, driven by a 41-year-old Tijuana man.

Over the last three days, CBP officers have apprehended 13 people wanted on outstanding felony warrants for such crimes as burglary, larceny, child neglect, and dangerous drugs.

Officers at the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro border stations also stopped 171 violators attempting to illegally enter the country with fraudulent documents, as imposters on valid documents, making oral false claims to U.S. citizenship, and attempting to enter without inspection.

“While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories,â€