C.B.P. News Release

Cocaine, Marijuana Smuggling Attempts Intercepted at Calexico Downtown Port of Entry

(Tuesday, February 23, 2010)

Calexico, Calif. — In two days, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Calexico downtown port of entry seized $887,000 worth of narcotics in two separate and unrelated seizures.

The most recent seizure occurred yesterday, Monday, February 22, at about 2:40 a.m. when CBP officers arrested a 28-year-old male U.S. citizen after they discovered 25 packages of cocaine concealed inside the gas tank of the grey 2006 Nissan Altima he was driving.

During the primary vehicle inspection, the officer noticed discrepancies with the gas tank and referred both the driver and vehicle for a more in-depth inspection.

After an intensive inspection that included a canine screening, officers discovered the concealed packages. The narcotics weighed 68 pounds with a street value of $544,000.

The driver, a resident of Brawley, Calif., was turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for further processing.

The second seizure occurred on Friday, February 19 at about 12:30 a.m. when officers with the port’s Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team conducting pre-primary enforcement operations referred a 56-year-old male Mexican citizen to vehicle secondary after a narcotic detector dog alerted to the vehicle he was driving.

After an intensive examination on the green 1993 Plymouth Voyager, officers discovered 103 packages of marijuana concealed throughout the van. The narcotics weighed 343 pounds with a street value of $343,000.

The driver, a resident of Mexicali, Baja California, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt and turned over to the custody of ICE agents for further processing.

In both incidents, CBP seized the narcotics and vehicles.

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 Campos
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (760) 768-2625

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2010_6.xml