Calexico, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Calexico ports of entry intercepted 77 pounds of cocaine and methamphetamines in three separate incidents on Wednesday, September 7.
The first incident occurred at about 4:00 p.m. at the Calexico downtown port when a CBP officer referred a 24-year-old female U.S. citizen for further examination after detecting anomalies to the interior of the vehicle she was driving.
During the intensive examination, a canine team screened the vehicle and the detector dog alerted to the green 1993 BMW. Officers subsequently discovered 16 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed inside all four doors of the vehicle. The weight of the cocaine was 48 pounds with a street value of $432,000.
The driver, a resident of Mexicali, Baja California, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt and turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for further processing.
The second incident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. when a CBP officer conducting inspections of vehicles and travelers escorted a 32-year-old male U.S. citizen for further examination.
During the intensive examination, a canine team screened the grey 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix and the detector dog alerted to the trunk area. CBP officers subsequently discovered 10 wrapped packages of cocaine hidden inside a black plastic bag in the wheel well of the extra tire. The weight of the cocaine was 23 pounds with a street value of $207,000.
The driver, a resident of Brawley, California, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt and turned over to ICE agents for further processing.
The third incident occurred about an hour later at the Calexico East port when a CBP officer referred a 36-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a black 2007 Hummer H3 for further examination.
During the intensive examination that included a canine screening and the use of x-ray equipment officers discovered six pounds of liquid methamphetamine concealed inside an anti-freeze container located in the rear passenger quarter panel of the vehicle. The street value of the liquid meth is approximately $66,000.
The driver, a resident of Calexico, California, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt and turned over to the custody of ICE agents for further processing.
The three individuals involved in the narcotic smuggling attempts were transported to the Imperial County Jail, where they await arraignment.
In all three incidents, the vehicles and narcotics were seized by CBP.
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.
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