C.B.P. News Release

Calexico CBP Officer Assaulted by SENTRI Trusted Traveler

More than 380 pounds of Marijuana Seized on Same Day

November 05, 2010

Calexico, Calif. — In addition to preventing more than 380 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of more than $230,000 from entering the country, U. S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Calexico West Port of Entry in California arrested a Mexican citizen enrolled in the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) program for assaulting a CBP officer yesterday.

Thirty bundles of marijuana with an estimated street value of more than $230,000 in the trunks of a 1994 white Toyota Camry driven by a 46-year-old female Mexican citizen. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

On Nov. 4, at approximately 1:30 p.m., a 26-year-old female Mexican citizen enrolled in the SENTRI trusted traveler program applied for entry at the designated SENTRI pedestrian lane accompanied by her three-year-old daughter. The woman presented her SENTRI card and stated she forgot her daughter’s. She was referred for a more in-depth inspection and verification of the child’s identity.

In the inspection area, the woman began raising her voice at CBP officers and refused to comply with instructions. During her inspection, she struck a CBP officer in the jaw with her elbow. The woman was then restrained and placed in a holding cell.

In addition to being charged for assaulting a CBP officer, the women will have her SENTRI program privileges revoked. Her three-year-old daughter was turned over to the custody of her grandmother.

“We require our CBP officers to treat the travelling public with respect, and train them to maintain their professionalism as they perform their duties,â€