Thread: Border Patrol Seizes Heroin, Cocaine at CA. Checkpoint

C.B.P. News Release

Border Patrol Seizes Heroin, Cocaine at California Checkpoint

(Monday, July 06, 2009)

Pine Valley, Calif. — On July 3, U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped two vehicles at the checkpoint on Interstate 8 in Pine Valley, and made significant seizures of heroin and cocaine worth nearly $465,000.

At about 1:30 p.m., Border Patrol agents encountered a 23-year-old man as he approached the checkpoint in a Dodge Grand Caravan. During the inspection, the man and his 14-year-old male passenger, both citizens of Mexico with valid border crossing cards, displayed nervous behavior and gave misleading information. The agents referred the vehicle to secondary inspection for further examination.

A Border Patrol K9 team was summoned to inspect the Dodge. The canine alerted to the vehicle, leading agents to conduct a further search of the vehicle. Agents uncovered an access panel to a secret compartment in the rear wheel wells of the vehicle which held eight wrapped bundles of heroin weighing 20.39 pounds. The estimated street value of the heroin is $203,927.

Earlier that day, at around 11:20 a.m., Border Patrol agents at the checkpoint stopped and questioned the driver of a Chevrolet Malibu. During the inspection the male driver, a 26-year-old U.S. citizen was referred to secondary inspection for further examination.

Border Patrol agents observed anomalies in the vehicles dashboard, center console, and exhaust system. Further examination revealed an aftermarket compartment above the exhaust system which held 10 bundles of cocaine weighing 26.2 pounds. The estimated street value of the cocaine is $262,000.

The drivers and drugs were turned over to a multi-agency, anti-drug task force. The 14-year-old was turned over to the San Ysidro, Calif., port of entry Port Enforcement.

As part of the Border Patrol’s defense-in-depth enforcement approach, checkpoint operations serve as a valuable tool to prevent the smuggling of humans, drugs and other contraband to the interior of our country. Since October 1, 2008, the men and women of San Diego Sector have seized more than 17,500 pounds of marijuana and 1,050 pounds of cocaine in San Diego Sector.

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
San Diego Sector
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (619) 216-4182 Ext: 114 or
(619) 652-9966 Ext: 192 (Spanish)

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2009_9.xml

How many does the Border Patrol miss?