Thread: Calexico Officers Seize Cocaine in Five Smuggling Incidents

Calexico Officers Seize Cocaine in Five Smuggling Incidents
Written by Imperial Valley News
Monday, 21 July 2008
Calexico, California - United States Customs and Border Protection officers had their hands full recently at the downtown Calexico port of entry when they seized five large cocaine loads, totaling more than 256 pounds, between July 11 and July 16, officials announced today.

CBP officers discovered the narcotics valued at nearly $2 million in five passenger cars as they entered the U.S. from Mexicali, Mexico. Six men, three U.S. citizens and the rest Mexican nationals, were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents and transported to the county jail to face arraignment.

The first seizure occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 11, when CBP officers discovered 20 wrapped packages of cocaine weighing more than 50 pounds hidden within a special compartment within the rocker panel of a silver 2003 Mazda with California plates.

The driver, a 19-year-old male U.S. citizen who resides in Calexico, and his 19-year-old passenger, also a U.S. citizen living in Mexicali, were arrested. The narcotics, valued at approximately $405,000 and the vehicle were seized by CBP.

On Saturday afternoon, CBP officers found 22 wrapped packages of cocaine weighing 50.2 pounds concealed within a non-factory compartment beneath the rear seat of a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero after it entered the port at about 1:15 p.m.

The vehicle was escorted to the secondary inspection lot after a human/narcotic detector dog alerted to it during a pre-primary enforcement operation.

The 44-year-old male driver, a Mexican legal permanent resident living in Calexico, was arrested by ICE agents. The narcotics, worth approximately $402,000, and the vehicle were seized by CBP.

A 46-year-old male Mexican resident of Mexicali was arrested at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday after CBP officers discovered 49.6 pounds of cocaine worth about $397,000 hidden in two non-factory compartments in the front bumper of a black 2000 Chevrolet Camaro. A narcotics detector dog had alerted to the vehicle during a secondary inspection.

On Tuesday, a 50-year-old male Mexican citizen who resides in Mexicali was arrested at about 11:30 a.m. after CBP officers discovered 69.67 pounds of cocaine hidden in a non-factory compartment that extended throughout the roof of a 2008 Honda Fit bearing Mexican license plates. A total of 26 packages of cocaine valued at $557,000 were seized along with the car.

A 27-year-old male U.S. citizen who resides in El Centro was arrested at about 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, after CBP officers found 15 packages of cocaine weighing 36 pounds hidden in the drive shaft area of his 2003 Chevrolet Silverado truck. A narcotic detector dog had alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary roving operation.

The narcotics, valued at about $208,000 and the vehicle were seized by CBP. The driver was arrested by ICE agents.

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