Port Officers in Imperial Valley Seize Over $2.2 Million Worth of Narcotics in One Day

Imperial Valley, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the ports of entry in Imperial Valley seized over 2.2 million dollars worth of narcotics Tuesday in three separate and unrelated incidents.

The first seizure occurred on May 30, at about 6:20 a.m. at the Andrade port of entry when a CBP officer conducting inspections of vehicles and travelers referred the driver of a white 2005 Ford F-250 pick-up truck to secondary after detecting anomalies to the external auxiliary fuel tank.

During the secondary examination, utilization of a canine team, density meter and fiber optic scope led officers to the discovery of 25 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed inside the auxiliary tank. The weight of the narcotic was 127 pounds with an estimated street value of approximately $1,524,000.

CBP officers arrested the 22-year-old male U.S. citizen and resident of Yuma, Arizona, and turned him over to the custody of ICE agents for further investigation.

The second seizure occurred an hour and a half later at the Calexico downtown port of entry when a CBP officer conducting inspections of vehicles and travelers referred the driver and passenger of a silver 2012 Toyota Corolla to the secondary inspection area for further examination.

During the intensive inspection, a canine team screened the vehicle and the detector dog alerted to the trunk area. A search of the trunk led officers to the discovery of five wrapped packages of methamphetamine concealed on the right side of the trunk area. The weight of the narcotics was 14 pounds with a street value of approximately $168,000.

CBP officers arrested the driver, a 28-year-old male Calexico resident, and passenger, a 20-year-old female Calexico resident, and turned them over to the custody of ICE agents for further investigation.

The third seizure occurred also at the downtown late in the evening at about 11:45 p.m. when a canine unit conducting inspections of vehicles and travelers alerted to a grey 2003 Honda Accord as the driver waited in line for inspection. Both the driver and vehicle were escorted to the vehicle secondary inspection area for further examination.

An intensive inspection on the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 29 wrapped packages of methamphetamine hidden inside the gas tank. The weight of the narcotic was 37 pounds with a street value of approximately $555,000.

CBP officers arrested the driver, a 27-year-old male U.S. citizen and resident of El Centro, 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 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.