More than ton of drugs seized at ports of entry

UNION-TRIBUNE
7:16 p.m. March 30, 2009

Nearly 2,400 pounds of marijuana and methamphetamine, valued at $2.2 million, were seized at the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro ports of entry, federal officials announced Monday.

The largest seizure occurred about 10:30 a.m. Sunday involving a commercial bus at Otay Mesa. Agents inspected the vehicle and found 254 packages of marijuana, weighing more than 1,300 pounds and valued at $790,000, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. The 37-year-old driver from Tijuana was arrested.

About seven hours later, an El Cajon man driving a 2004 GMC pickup truck and towing a trailer tried to enter the country at San Ysidro. He was referred for further inspection and agents found a problem with the interior of the trailer. Marijuana bundled in 63 packages, weighing more than 1,000 pounds and valued at $611,000, was found behind the bathroom wall, according to federal officials. The 55-year-old driver was arrested.

Last week Thursday, a 30-year-old Tijuana woman was arrested after 33 packages of methamphetamine were found in a secret compartment under the rear cargo area of the Jeep she was driving, according to federal officials. The drugs weighed 57 pounds and have a street value of almost $860,000.

In all the cases, drug sniffing dogs alerted federal agents to the narcotics. The vehicles and narcotics were confiscated.

Breaking News Team: (619) 293-1010; breaking@uniontrib.com

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