Saturday, 26 January 2008
CBP Nets More Than 5 Million Worth of Narcotics in 2 Days at California Ports
Calexico, California

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducting border security operations at the Calexico, Calif. downtown and East ports of entry seized 576 pounds of narcotics in two days, officials announced today. CBP officers intercepted 274 pounds of cocaine, 264 pounds of marijuana, more than 20 pounds of heroin and almost 18 pounds of methamphetamine in nine foiled smuggling attempts on Tuesday, January 22, and Wednesday, January 23.

The largest seizure occurred at the downtown port on Tuesday at about 9:30 p.m. when CBP officers referred the 22-year old driver of a 2000 Ford Expedition to secondary for a more in-depth inspection. During the secondary inspection, a narcotic/human detector dog was used to screen the Expedition and it alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle.

Officers searched the vehicle and discovered 41 packages of cocaine weighing 98 pounds and 16 packages of methamphetamine weighing almost 18 pounds inside the gas tank. The driver, a Mexican citizen with residence in Calexico, was arrested and transported to the Imperial County jail.

“These narcotic seizures demonstrate the need for continued vigilance by CBP,â€