CBP Sees Narcotics Seizures Grow While Immigration Apprehensions Fall During Quarter in Southern California

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

San Diego – The amount of narcotics seized at ports of entry on the California-Mexico border increased substantially while the number of immigration apprehensions decreased during the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in San Diego announced today.

The quantity of drugs seized increased 22 percent to 60,792 pounds compared to the same three-month period the previous year when CBP officers confiscated 49,833 pounds, officials noted. The federal fiscal year began October 1.

Increases were noted in all classes of narcotics confiscated at California’s six border stations. The quantity of marijuana seized jumped 21 percent to 57,595 pounds; cocaine seizures climbed 57 percent to 2,362 pounds; heroin increased 30 percent to 28 pounds; and methamphetamine rose 49 percent to 807 pounds. The California ports of entry seizures represent 46 percent of all drugs confiscated at border stations on the Southwest border and 38 percent of all drugs seized at ports nationwide.