Authorities arrest 18 fugitives at border

By Ana Ceballos1:49 P.M.OCT. 29, 2013

OTAY MESA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested 18 fugitives and seized about $1.1 million in drugs over the weekend along the U.S.-Mexico border, authorities said Tuesday.

Nine of those arrested attempted to smuggle marijuana, methamphetamine or heroin across the border by hiding the drugs inside their vehicles. Hiding spots included the gas tank, undercarriages, seats and quarter panels, customs officials said.

All of their vehicles and the narcotics were seized.

On Friday, a 19-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man, both from Chula Vista, were entering the United States at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry when officers sent them to further inspection shortly before noon. Customs officers arrested them after finding
21 pounds of liquid methamphetamine, worth about $430,000, stored in an antifreeze container inside their Ford Focus, authorities said.

Later, on Sunday, a 38-year-old man driving a 1993 Ford Ranger was arrested when a dog sniffed about 5½ pounds of heroin, worth $78,400, hidden inside a fire extinguisher, officials said. The Tijuana resident was jailed.

The other nine people were arrested on a variety of charges ranging from theft and fraud to homicide.

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