Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Hashish stopped at Calexico East Port

CALEXICO, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Calexico East port of entry arrested a United States citizen after discovering 27 pounds of cocaine, seven pounds of hashish and six pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle he was driving. 

The incident occurred at about 7:45 a.m. on Oct. 24, when a CBP officer conducting inspections of vehicles and travelers entering the United States referred the driver, a 49-year-old man, for further examination.

The intensive examination on the red Dodge Ram pick-up truck that included a canine screening and use of X-ray equipment led officers to the discovery of 10 wrapped packages of cocaine co-mingled with five packages of methamphetamine and two packages of hashish. The narcotics were concealed inside a non-factory compartment in the interior rear wall of the pick-up truck. The combined street value of the narcotics is approximately $259,600.

The driver, a resident of Calexico, was turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and transported to the Imperial County Jail where he currently awaits arraignment.

CBP seized both the vehicle and narcotics.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 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.