CBP Officers at Imperial Valley Ports Intercepted more than $102,000 worth of Narcotics in One Day

Imperial Valley, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Andrade and Calexico downtown ports of entry arrested three U.S. citizens on Monday, July 25, for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than $102,000 worth of narcotics from entering the United States.

The first seizure occurred at about 11:30 a.m. at the Andrade port of entry when a 37-year-old female U.S. citizen driving a white 2001 Ford F-150 Pick-up truck was referred for further examination.

During the secondary examination, a canine screening of the vehicle led officers to the discovery of 36 wrapped packages of marijuana concealed inside the spare tire. The weight of the narcotic was 63 pounds with an estimated street value of $102,530.

The driver, a resident of Yuma, Arizona, was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigators (HSI) for further processing.

The second seizure occurred six hours later at the Calexico downtown port of entry when a CBP officer conducting inspections of vehicles and travelers referred two male U.S. citizens in a blue 2002 Ford Mustang for further examination.

An intensive inspection that included a canine screening led officers to the discovery of six wrapped packages of methamphetamines concealed inside a non-factory compartment in the spoiler that was affixed on top of the vehicle’s trunk. The weight of the narcotic was seven pounds with an estimated street value of $77,000.

The driver and passenger, 23-year-old and 22-year-old male residents of Holtville, California, were arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt and turned over to the custody of HSI for further processing.

Violators were transported to the Imperial County Jail where they currently await arraignment.

In both incidents, CBP seized the narcotics and vehicles.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.