BAJA OFFICER HELD ON SMUGGLING CHARGES

A Baja California state police officer was arrested Monday at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on suspicion of smuggling nearly 100 pounds of cocaine in his car, according to a complaint filed in San Diego federal court.

Víctor Alfonso Moreno had been part of the Baja California state police for seven years in the Tijuana area, Mexican officials said.

On Monday around 11 a.m., Moreno, who is a Mexican citizen, arrived at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in a Nissan Sentra with Baja California license plates.

A Customs and Border Protection officer noticed anomalies with the rear seat of the car and requested assistance from a canine team.

Further inspection resulted in the discovery of 35 packages of suspected cocaine concealed in the driver, passenger and rear seats, with a total approximate weight of 97 pounds, according to the complaint.

Moreno denied knowledge that the drugs were in the car.

He said he was going shopping at 5.11 Tactical,

Walmart and Ross in San Diego County.

He added that he had left his car at a mechanic’s shop in Tijuana on Sept. 15, and that he is very close friends with the mechanic, the complaint said.

Moreno stated he had previously investigated that same mechanic for “having possible ties to cartels.”

Moreno told investigators he picked up the car Monday.

At an initial appearance hearing in court Tuesday, Moreno was ordered to remain jailed without bail.

His lawyer declined to comment on the case Thursday.

Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero called the incident “unfortunate” once she was questioned about it by the media.

“I am sure that the governor is already addressing the matter as she should,” she said.

Baja California officials said they have opened an internal investigation.

Authorities said that Moreno had no prior incidents within the agency and had passed regular background checks as part of his employment there.