C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers at Calexico Ports Intercept 1,000 Pounds of Narcotics in 13 Hours

(Thursday, September 18, 2008)

Calexico, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico ports of entry had a busy day yesterday when they intercepted seven narcotic smuggling attempts within a 13-hour period from vehicles that entered the United States from Mexico, officials announced today.

CBP Officers on Wednesday seized 19.70 pounds of cocaine, 11.72 pounds of methamphetamine, and 1,112 pounds of marijuana with a total value exceeding $700,000.

Seven drivers, one U.S. citizen and six Mexican nationals, were arrested in connection with the failed smuggling attempts. The narcotics and vehicles were seized by CBP.

Two of the smuggling attempts were stopped at the Calexico East port of entry. The other five attempts were discovered at the Calexico downtown port.

At about 3:30 a.m. officers at the Calexico downtown port of entry discovered 162 pounds of marijuana valued at over $64,000 concealed inside a propane tank of a white 1995 GMC Truck with California plates when it entered the port. The driver, a 26-year-old male U.S. citizen, was arrested and his vehicle was seized by CBP.

Five and a half hours later, a 41-year old male Mexican citizen was arrested at the downtown port after CBP officers discovered 125 pounds of marijuana valued at over $50,000 concealed inside a propane tank of a white 1999 Ford F-150 pick-up truck.

At about 11:45 a.m., a 33-year-old male Mexican citizen was detained at the downtown port after officers found 405 pounds of marijuana valued at over $162,000 concealed within the bed of a white 1990 Ford F-350 pick-up truck.

About an hour later, CBP officers at the Calexico East port of entry discovered 209 pounds of marijuana worth over $83,000 concealed inside a non-factory compartment in the bed area of a white 1996 Dodge Ram pick-up truck during a secondary enforcement operation. The driver, a 39-year old male Mexican citizen, was arrested and his vehicle was seized by CBP.

At about 1:50 p.m. a 29-year old male Mexican driver was arrested at the downtown port of entry after officers found 11.72 pounds of methamphetamine worth over $125,000 concealed in a non-factory compartment inside the front bumper of a blue 1998 Ford F-150 pick-up truck.

Ten minutes later, downtown port officers seized approximately 20 pounds of cocaine valued at over $157,000 after it was discovered in the center console of a black 1995 Chevy Silverado that was referred for a secondary examination after a detector dog alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary enforcement operation. The driver, 36-year old male Mexican citizen, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.

Later that afternoon, officers at the east port cargo facility seized 211 pounds of marijuana worth $84,300 concealed inside the gas tank of a blue 1999 commercial tractor trailer after it was referred for a secondary X-ray examination. The driver, a 29-year-old Mexican citizen and Culiacan resident was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling.

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
Phone: (760) 768-2625 or
(760) 802-6488

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2008_3.xml