CPB Officers Intercept Three Major Smuggling Attempts

Calexico, Calif. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico downtown port of entry intercepted over 228 pounds of narcotics concealed in three vehicles that entered the United States from Mexico, within a three day period. The total value of the seized narcotics is close to $2 million. The most recent interception occurred at about 7 a.m. last week Monday, at the Calexico downtown port of entry when a green 2003 Lexus was referred for a secondary examination after a detector dog alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary enforcement operation. During the secondary examination, CBP officers x-rayed the vehicle revealing 60 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed within the floor area of the vehicle. Total weight of the narcotics is 170 pounds with a street value of more than $1.3 million. The driver, a permanent resident alien of La Puente, California, was arrested. Both the narcotics and vehicle were seized by CBP. The second seizure occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 6, when a 34-year-old Mexican male, driving a silver 2001 Honda Passport with Baja California plates was referred to the secondary inspection area after the primary officer noticed some discrepancies to the gas tank area. In secondary, a detector dog alerted positive to the odor of narcotics emanating from the gas tank area, where officers discovered 15 wrapped packages of cocaine. Total weight of the narcotics is 38 pounds with a street value of more than $300,000. The driver, a Mexicali resident, was placed under arrest for the alleged narcotic smuggling. The narcotic and vehicle were seized by CBP. The third smuggling attempt occurred at about 2:45 a.m. on Friday, September 5 when a black 2003 Honda Element was referred to the secondary inspection area for an intensive examination after a detector dog alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary enforcement operation. At the secondary inspection area, an intensive examination led to the discovery of 15 wrapped packages of methamphetamine concealed within the vehicles dashboard. Total weight of the narcotics is 20 pounds. The driver, a 34-year-old male from Yuma, Arizona, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling. The narcotics, worth more than $200,000, and the vehicle were seized by CBP.