CBP Officers at I.V. Ports of Entry Intercept over $1 Million worth of Methamphetamines from Entering the U.S.

Imperial Valley, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Imperial Valley ports of entry stopped more than $1 million worth of methamphetamines from entering the U.S. over the weekend.

The first seizure occurred at about 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, at the Andrade port of entry when a CBP officer conducting inspections of vehicles and travelers referred a 25-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a silver 1999 Isuzu Rodeo for further examination.

During the intensive inspection, a canine team inspected the vehicle, and the detector dog alerted. CBP officers found 26 wrapped packages of methamphetamine concealed inside a non-factory compartment in the gas tank. The weight of the narcotic was 41 pounds with a street value of approximately $615,000.

CBP officers arrested the driver, a permanent resident of the United States who resides in Yuma, Arizona, for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.

The second seizure occurred the next day, Sunday, June 10, at about 10:15 a.m. at the Calexico Downtown port when a CBP officer with the port’s Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team targeted a silver 1999 Ford Contour for further examination. Officers pulled the vehicle and driver out of the line for a more intensive inspection.

Using a canine screening, x-ray equipment and a density meter device, CBP officers found 16 wrapped packages of methamphetamine concealed inside a non-factory compartment in the front bumper of the vehicle. The weight of the narcotic was 17 pounds with a street value of approximately $255,000.

The driver, a 50-year-old male Mexican citizen and resident of Mexicali, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.

The third seizure occurred at about 8:30 p.m. at the Andrade port of entry, also on June 10, when CBP officers conducting inspections of vehicles and travelers targeted a blue 2005 Chevy Malibu for further examination. Officers pulled the vehicle and driver out of the line for a more intensive examination.

Utilization of a detector dog led officers to the discovery of 12 wrapped packages of methamphetamines concealed inside a non-factory compartment in the vehicle’s trunk area. The weight of the methamphetamine was 13 pounds with a street value of approximately $195,000.

The driver, a 36-year-old male U.S. citizen and resident of Yuma, Arizona, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.

All three violators were transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for further investigation. The violators were later transported to the Imperial County Jail where they currently await arraignment.

CBP placed an immigration hold on the Mexican citizens to initiate removal from the United States at the conclusion of their criminal proceedings.

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.