Calexico, CA – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico ports of entry seized 153 pounds of cocaine, methamphetamine, and hashish in three separate incidents over the weekend. The street value of the three drug loads is estimated at more than $1.3 million, officials announced today.
The most recent seizure occurred on Sunday, September 27, at about 9 p.m., at the Calexico East port of entry when officers escorted an 18-year-old female U.S. citizen driving a white 2004 Chevy Malibu to the vehicle secondary examination area after the primary officer noticed a discrepancy in the vehicle’s floor.An intensive inspection and utilization of a detector dog led officers to the discovery of 27 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed inside a non-factory compartment in the vehicle’s floor. The weight of the narcotics is 65 pounds with a street value of $585,000.
CBP officers arrested the driver, a resident of Calexico, Calif., on federal drug smuggling charges and turned her over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
The second seizure occurred earlier in the day at about 8:30 a.m., at the Calexico East port of entry, when a primary officer referred a 29-year-old female U.S. citizen driving a red 2001 Dodge Stratus for further inspection.
During the secondary inspection, usage of a detector dog and x-ray equipment led officers to the discovery of 16 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed inside a non-factory compartment in the vehicle’s floor. The weight of the narcotics is 40 pounds with a street value of $360,000.
CBP officers arrested the driver, a resident of Mexicali, Baja California, on drug smuggling charges and turned her over to ICE agents for further processing.
The third seizure occurred on Friday, September 25, at about 3:30 p.m., at the Calexico downtown port when CBP officers escorted two 18-year-old male Mexican citizens in a black 2002 Ford Escape to the secondary inspection area after a detector dog alerted to the vehicle as they waited in line to enter the country.
Officers subsequently discovered 22 wrapped packages of methamphetamine co-mingled with hashish concealed inside the vehicle’s dashboard. Twelve packages contained methamphetamine and 10 packages contained the hashish. The combined weight of the narcotics was 48 pounds with an estimated street value of over $400,000.
CBP officers arrested both the driver and passenger, residents of Mexicali, Baja California, for the narcotics smuggling attempt and turned them over to ICE agents who then transported them to the Imperial County Jail to await their arraignment.
CBP placed immigration holds on the Mexican citizens to initiate removal from the United States at the conclusion of their criminal proceedings.
CBP seized the vehicles and narcotics.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
