Calexico Port Officers Seize $756,000 worth of Narcotics within a Two-Hour Time Span

Calexcio, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico downtown port of entry seized more than $750,000 worth of narcotics within a two-hour time span Thursday.

The first seizure occurred at about 10:15 a.m., after officers with the port’s Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team arrested a 28-year-old U.S. citizen after they found 393 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle he was driving.

A-TCET officers conducting enforcement operations encountered the driver of a Ford F-250 truck as he waited in line for inspection. A detector dog alerted to the vehicle, so both driver and vehicle were escorted for further examination.

During the inspection, officers utilized a density reader on the auxiliary tank located on the bed of the pick-up. Officers subsequently discovered 60 wrapped packages of marijuana concealed inside the tank valued at $393,000.

The driver, a resident of Mexicali, Baja California, was turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for further investigation.

The second seizure occurred 35 minutes later. Officers with the A-TCET escorted a 26-year-old U. S. citizen for further inspection after a detector dog alerted to his vehicle as he waited in line to enter the United States.

During the inspection, the driver was instructed to exit the Toyota Corolla. As the driver exited the vehicle, an officer detected what appeared to be a large package concealed in the man’s rear waistband. Officers field tested the contents of the package which tested positive for Heroin. The weight of the narcotic was three pounds with a street value of approximately $51,000.

CBP officers arrested the driver, a resident of Calexico, California and transferred him to the custody of ICE agents.

The third seizure occurred at about 12:30 p.m. when a CBP officer conducting inspections of travelers referred a 54-year-old U.S. citizen to the secondary inspection area for further inspection.

A canine unit screened the man’s vehicle, which led officers to the discovery of 15 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed inside a non-factory compartment in the vehicle’s rear floor area. The weight of the narcotic was 39 pounds with an estimated street value of $312,000.

The driver, a resident of San Diego, California was arrested and turned over to the custody of ICE agents.

In all three incidents, the drivers were transported to the Imperial Country jail where they await arraignment.

CBP seized the vehicles 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.

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