CBP Officers Seize 407 Pounds of Marijuana During March at Del Rio Port of Entry

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Del Rio, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at the Del Rio Port of Entry seized more than 400 pounds of marijuana during the month of March and identified scores of immigration violations and wanted persons.

During the month of March, CBP officers at the Del Rio Port of Entry seized more than 407 pounds of marijuana in 6 separate enforcement actions. In addition, CBP officers uncovered 48 cases involving immigration violations and apprehended 23 wanted persons.

The largest marijuana seizure of the month-long period occurred on March 6 at the Amistad Dam crossing. A CBP officer referred a 1994 Dodge van driven by Kentoya M. Whiteside, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen from Chicago for a secondary examination. During the examination, CBP officers discovered discrepancies in the roof of the van. CBP Canine “Beasty” alerted to roof of van. A non-intrusive imaging system scan also confirmed an anomaly in the same area. CBP officers discovered numerous packages containing a total of 185 pounds of marijuana. The marijuana has an estimated street value of $185,000. CBP officers arrested Whiteside on federal drug charges and turned her over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents who investigated the seizure.