Calexico, CA. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Calexico downtown port recently seized over $67,000 worth of narcotics in two separate smuggling attempts.
On September 21 at about 10:00 p.m., a CBP officer encountered a 30-year-old female U.S. citizen as she entered the country on foot. During the interview, the officer detected signs of nervousness being displayed by the traveler as she attempted to provide proper identification.
A closer inspection led officers to the discovery of two packages of methamphetamine concealed under the traveler’s clothing. The weight of the narcotic was one pound with a street value of approximately $11,000.
CBP officers arrested the traveler, a resident of Indio, California, for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.
A second seizure occurred on September 22 at about 4:15 a.m., when an officer conducting inspections of vehicles and travelers referred a 26-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a white 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck for further examination.
A canine team was utilized to screen the truck and the detector dog alerted to the gas tank area. CBP officers subsequently discovered 61 wrapped packages of marijuana concealed inside the vehicle’s gas tank. The weight of the narcotic was 125 pounds with a street value of approximately $56,540.
The driver, a resident of Mexicali, Baja California, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.
In both incidents, the violators were turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations and transported to the Imperial County Jail where they currently await arraignment. CBP seized the vehicle and narcotics.
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.
