Calexico Port Officers Seize More than a Half Million Dollars Worth of Hard Narcotics in One Day

Calexico, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico ports of entry seized more than a half million dollars worth of hard narcotics yesterday in three separate and unrelated incidents.

The first seizure occurred on Tuesday morning at about 9:50 a.m. when CBP officers arrested a 48-year-old male Mexican citizen after discovering 46 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle he was driving when he entered the U.S. at the Calexico East port of entry.

A CBP officer conducting inspections of vehicles and travelers referred the blue 2001 Ford Escape to the secondary inspection area for further examination.

During the intensive inspection, utilization of a canine team and an x-ray imaging system led officers to the discovery of 40 wrapped packages of methamphetamine concealed within all four doors of the vehicle. The estimated street value of the narcotic is approximately $506,000.

CBP officers turned custody of the driver, a resident of Desert Hot Springs, Calif., over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for further investigation.

The second seizure occurred four and a half hours later at the Calexico downtown port of entry when a canine alerted to an 18-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a silver 2012 Chevrolet Aveo as he waited in line for inspection. CBP officers then escorted the driver to the secondary inspection area for further examination.

A closer inspection of the driver led officers to the discovery of six wrapped packages of methamphetamine strapped to the driver’s body. The weight of the narcotic was 10 pounds with a street value of approximately $110,000.

CBP officers arrested the driver, a resident of Mexicali, Baja California, and turned him over to the custody of ICE agents for further investigation.

The third seizure also occurred on Tuesday at the downtown port at about 6:30 p.m. when an officer conducting inspections of travelers at the pedestrian inspection area referred a 19-year-old male U.S. citizen for further examination.

A closer inspection of the traveler resulted in the discovery of two wrapped packages of cocaine strapped to the traveler’s body. The weight of the narcotic was three pounds with a street value of approximately $27,000.

CBP officers arrested the traveler, a resident of Mexicali, Baja California, and turned him over to the custody of ICE agents for further processing.

In all three incidents, the violators were transported to the Imperial County Jail where they 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.