Drug seizures at U.S.-Mexico ports up 20 percent

By Susan Shroder
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 5:15 p.m.

SAN DIEGO — More than 145 tons of narcotics were seized at U.S.-Mexico ports of entry in San Diego and Imperial counties during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, a 20 percent increase from the previous fiscal year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said Tuesday.

The drugs were confiscated at border checkpoints at San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, Calexico and Andrade, said Angelica De Cima, a CBP spokeswoman.

Methamphetamine seizures increased by 82 percent; followed by heroin seizures at 51 percent and marijuana seizures at 21 percent. Cocaine seizures decreased by 13 percent.

The marijuana seized at the California border checkpoints accounted for 71 percent of the methamphetamine and 40 percent of the marijuana seized at ports of entry nationwide, De Cima said.

More than $1.46 million in currency was confiscated, an increase of 108 percent, and more than 42,000 immigration violators were apprehended.

The CBP’s San Diego Air and Marine branch seized more than 1 million pounds of marijuana and more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine, along with 27 vessels.

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