CBP in California seizes $2.3 million in meth
SAN DIEGO - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at three major ports of entry along the California/Mexico border seized more than $2.3 million worth of crystal methamphetamine hidden in inside secret areas of vehicles.
The most significant seizure occurred at the San Ysidro Port of Entry at about 4 p.m. Friday, after a 39-year-old female Mexican national driving a Chevy Tahoe attempted to enter the country. CBP officers noticed anomalies while inspecting the vehicle. A CBP K-9 team was summoned and a narcotic detector dog alerted to the vehicle. After an intensive inspection, CBP officers discovered a specially modified gas tank that contained 25 packages of crystal meth with an estimated street value of more than $1,059,000.
The following day at about 6:30 a.m., CBP officers at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry inspected an older Mercedes Benz driven by a 30-year-old male U.S. citizen.
A CBP K-9 team was summoned to the vehicle and the narcotic detector dog alerted leading officers to perform an intensive inspection.
Subsequently, officers discovered six cylindrical packages hidden in the vehicle’s rocker panels that contained crystal methamphetamine with an estimated street value of more than $552,000.
On Sunday, CBP officers at the Calexico Port of Entry inspected a late model Mitsubishi SUV driven by a 24-year-old U.S. citizen female. A CBP K-9 alerted to the vehicle while waiting in line to cross into the U.S. CBP officers directed the driver to secondary inspection.
During inspection, officer discovered a gas tank with a specially built compartment that contained 35 packages of crystal meth with a value of $695,376.
The total weight of the three seizures was 128 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $2.3 million.
Pete Flores, San Diego CBP assistant director for trade, said, “I am proud of the outstanding work the officers at our southern ports of entry consistently do to keep our communities safe from these drugs and the crime it generates. These significant seizures have dealt a blow to the smuggling organizations.”
CBP officers seized the drugs and the vehicles and turned over the custody of the three individuals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents. All are awaiting arraignment at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego.
