CBP Nets More Than $5 Million Worth of Narcotics in 2 Days at Calif. Ports

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Calexico, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducting border security operations at the Calexico, Calif. downtown and East ports of entry seized 576 pounds of narcotics in two days, officials announced today. CBP officers intercepted 274 pounds of cocaine, 264 pounds of marijuana, more than 20 pounds of heroin and almost 18 pounds of methamphetamine in nine foiled smuggling attempts on Tuesday, January 22, and Wednesday, January 23.

The largest seizure occurred at the downtown port on Tuesday at about 9:30 p.m. when CBP officers referred the 22-year old driver of a 2000 Ford Expedition to secondary for a more in-depth inspection. During the secondary inspection, a narcotic/human detector dog was used to screen the Expedition and it alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle.

Officers searched the vehicle and discovered 41 packages of cocaine weighing 98 pounds and 16 packages of methamphetamine weighing almost 18 pounds inside the gas tank. The driver, a Mexican citizen with residence in Calexico, was arrested and transported to the Imperial County jail.

“These narcotic seizures demonstrate the need for continued vigilance by CBP,” said Billy Whitford, port director of the Calexico ports. “These officers are committed to securing our border and keeping narcotics out of our country.”

CBP officers working at the downtown port of entry made an additional four drug intercepts, totaling 143 pounds of cocaine, 87 pounds of marijuana, and over 20 pounds of heroin.

The largest seizure at the East port occurred on Wednesday at 6 a.m. when the primary officer noticed a discrepancy with the dashboard of a 2001 Plymouth Neon driven by a 35- year old Mexicali man. The officer also removed the rocker panel covering and noticed packages. Officers handcuffed the driver for safety reasons and escorted him into the secondary area.

There, officers discovered 28 packages of marijuana weighing 74 pounds in the dashboard and in both rocker panels of the Neon. The driver was arrested and transported to the Imperial County jail.

CBP officers working at the East port made an additional three drug seizures totaling 103 pounds of marijuana and about 33 pounds of cocaine.

Street value of the seized narcotics is more than $5.1 million.