CBP seizes more than 1/4 ton of drugs in one arrest
CALEXICO — Drug busts at the border are pretty common, but on Thursday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the port of entry here stopped a smuggling attempt involving a lot more contraband than someone could possibly stuff in his pants.
CBP issued a release Friday reporting the seizure of 565 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl in a single incident. The drugs were valued at $2 million.
The release said a 55-year-old man driving a 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander attempted to cross the border about 4 a.m. but was redirected to secondary inspection after X-ray imaging picked up several anomalies within the vehicle.
CBP officers screened the vehicle with a K-9 team, and the detector dog reportedly alerted to the doors and rear bumper. Officers searched the vehicle and reportedly discovered 20 packages of fentanyl weighing 48 pounds and 121 packages of methamphetamine weighing 517 pounds hidden in the floor, gas tank, seats and spare tire of the vehicle.
CBP officers immediately arrested the subject and turned him over to Homeland Security Investigations. CBP officers seized the vehicle and the drugs.
CBP has reported seizure of 719 pounds of illegal drugs since Wednesday
Border Patrol agents working a joint investigation with Homeland Security Investigations Wednesday seized 75.57 pounds of methamphetamine from a vehicle near the intersection of Temple Court and Rockwood Avenue, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release said.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:45 a.m.
The meth had an estimated value of $170,032.
The agents seized and transported the drugs back to the Calexico Border Patrol Station for further processing. They were subsequently transferred to HSI.
The investigation resulted in the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of two vehicles, CBP said.
The subjects were booked on charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute.