Customs officers seize drugs at San Luis port
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July 14, 2008 - 4:38PM
FROM STAFF REPORTS
More than 200 pounds of marijuana and more than 100 pounds of cocaine were stopped at the border as officers at the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz., made three separate drug busts in recent days, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

Three smuggling suspects were also arrested in the attempts to bring the drugs through the port of entry, CBP said in a news release.

CBP estimated the total street value of the marijuana and cocaine at more than $3 million.

The largest of the three seizures came early Thursday morning when the suspicious behavior of the driver of a 1992 Toyota entering from Mexico led to a vehicle search that uncovered 201 pounds of marijuana hidden in the side panels and roof, the release said.

The driver was identified as a 41-year-old El Salvadoran who was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The bust followed the seizure Wednesday morning of 65 pounds of cocaine hidden in the gas tank of a 1991 Nissan Pathfinder, CBP said.

The driver's answers and discrepancies in the vehicle had led to the search, CBP said. The driver, identified as a 41-year-old Mexican national, was turned over to ICE.

The other cocaine seizure occurred July 7 after an officer became suspicious of the driver of a 2000 Honda Accord and ordered a search, CBP said.

The search turned up 41 pounds of cocaine in the passenger side quarter panel, CBP said, and the driver, a 24-year-old Mexican national, was arrested and turned over to ICE



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