395 pounds of meth found in rock shipment

Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico east commercial facility arrested a Mexicali man after discovering 395 pounds of methamphetamine stashed inside the shipment of decorative rocks he was hauling.

The incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. Friday, when officers encountered the 66-year-old Mexican citizen as he entered the port of entry driving a Freightliner semi and towing a trailer containing a manifested shipment of decorative rocks.

During a preliminary inspection, a CBP canine alerted to the conveyance, and officers directed the driver through the port’s X-ray imaging system.

CBP officers reviewed the X-ray scans and detected anomalies inside cavities within the artificial rocks.

Officers offloaded the shipment, searched the hollow areas in the rocks and ultimately discovered 120 wrapped packages of meth concealed inside.

The meth had an estimated street value of $1.1 million.

Officers seized the tractor, trailer and drugs. The driver was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations agents for further processing.

He was later transported to county jail, where he currently awaits arraignment, a CBP news release on Monday stated.

Vehicle reported stolen

A four-door, silver 2003 Acura TL bearing California license plates was reported stolen Monday afternoon from Third Street and Paulin Avenue, Calexico Police Department announced.