Calexico Port Officers Seize $1.3 Million worth of Narcotics over the Labor Day Weekend

Photo: US Customs and Border Protection

(Calexico, Calif.) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico downtown port of entry seized over $1.3 million dollars worth of narcotics in three separate incidents over the Labor Day weekend.

The first seizure occurred at about 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 4, when CBP officers arrested a 36-year-old male Mexican citizen after 58 pounds of cocaine were discovered hidden in the vehicle he was driving.

CBP officers with the port's Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET) were conducting an enforcement operation when a detector dog alerted to a black 2003 Dodge Ram pick-up truck as it waited in line for inspection. Officers then escorted both the driver and vehicle aside for further investigation.

At the secondary inspection area, officers conducted an intensive inspection and discovered 20 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed inside the spare tire of the vehicle. The estimated street value of the narcotic is $464,000.

CBP officers turned the driver, a resident of Mexicali, Baja California, over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for further processing.

The second seizure occurred the following day at about 7:30 a.m. when again officers with the port’s A-TCET were conducting an enforcement operation and a detector dog alerted to a white 1988 Chevrolet pick-up truck as it waited in line for inspection.

Officers escorted both driver and vehicle to the secondary area for further investigation.

An intensive examination led officers to the discovery of 35 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed in a specially built compartment inside the vehicle's gas tank. The weight of the narcotic was 98 pounds with a street value of $784,000.

The driver, a 46-year-old male Mexican citizen and resident of Mexicali, was arrested and turned over to the custody of ICE agents for further processing.

The third seizure occurred at about 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 6, when a canine team and a CBP officer where conducting an enforcement operation and the canine alerted to a silver 2009 Toyota Corolla as it waited in line for inspection. Officers then escorted the driver, passengers and vehicle to the secondary inspection area for further investigation.

CBP officers conducted an intensive inspection on the vehicle and discovered 112 wrapped packages of marijuana concealed inside a specially built compartment in the trunk area and inside the rear passenger doors. The weight of the narcotic was 140 pounds with an estimated street value of $140,000.

The driver, a 30-year-old male United States citizen, and the passengers, a 24-year-old female U.S. citizen and a 20-year-old male U.S. citizen, were arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt and turned over to the custody of ICE agents for further processing.

In all three incidents, the drivers and passengers were transported to the Imperial County jail where they are awaiting arraignment.

CBP placed immigration holds on the Mexican citizens to initiate removal from the United States at the conclusion of their criminal proceedings.

CBP officers seized all three vehicles and narcotics.