CBP officers seize more than $7 million of narcotics

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized approximately 1,109 pounds of narcotics valued at more than $7 million during five incidents over the weekend at ports of entry along the California/Mexico border.

One incident resulted in the arrest of a Yuma resident.

The drugs were hidden in various areas of the vehicles, such as in the gas tank, bumpers, quarter panels and the tires.

A significant cocaine seizure occurred at about 2 p.m. Friday at the San Ysidro port of entry while a CBP officer and detector dog were screening vehicles and the canine alerted to a white Nissan Micra driven by a 38-year-old male citizen of Mexico.

CBP officers ran the vehicle though the port's imaging system, which showed anomalies underneath the front seats. Officers extracted 32 packages of cocaine from a non-factory floor compartment beneath the front seats. The cocaine weighed 82 pounds and had a street value of $902,000.

Also on Friday, CBP officers at the Otay Mesa passenger port of entry encountered a 20-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado. The driver, passenger and vehicle were referred to a more in-depth inspection during which CBP officers noticed anomalies with the tires. They found 24 packages of marijuana in all four tires with a total weight of 140 pounds and a street value of $210,000.

At about 10:40 a.m. on Saturday, a CBP officer at the Calexico downtown port of entry referred a 31-year-old female Mexican citizen to further investigation after detecting anomalies to the interior of the 2002 Ford Focus she was driving.

A detector dog alerted to the interior. Officers then discovered seven wrapped packages of methamphetamine concealed inside a non-factory compartment in the dashboard. The 8 pounds of narcotics have an estimated street value of approximately $120,000.

CBP officers arrested the driver, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.

On Sunday, at about 3 p.m. at the Calexico downtown port, a canine team conducting inspections of travelers at the pedestrian inspection area escorted a 19-year-old female U.S. citizen for further examination after the detector dog alerted to her person.

During the examination, officers removed two wrapped packages of heroin strapped to the woman's calves. The 3 pounds of heroin has a street value of approximately $36,000.

The traveler, a Calexico resident, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.

A large seizure occurred five hours later that same day at the Andrade port of entry when a CBP officer conducting inspections of vehicles and travelers escorted an 18-year-old male U.S. citizen for further examination.

An intensive search that included a canine screening of the silver 2005 Toyota Scion resulted in the discovery of 15 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed inside the quarter panels of the vehicle. The 38 pounds of the narcotic has a street value of approximately $456,000.

The driver, a Yuma resident, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.

In all five incidents, the drivers were transported to local jail facilities where they await arraignment.

CBP seized the narcotics and vehicles.