Calexico East Port Officers Arrest U.S. Citizen for Cocaine Smuggling

Calexico, Calif. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Calexico East port of entry arrested a U.S. citizen after discovering 99 pounds of cocaine hidden inside the vehicle she was driving.

A 29-year-old woman was arrested Monday after CBP officers at Calexico found nearly $800,000 worth of cocaine hidden inside the dash of the vehicle she was driving.

The incident occurred on Monday, at about 11 a.m. when CBP officers conducting enforcement operations referred the 29-year-old driver, for secondary inspection after a detector dog alerted to her 2003 Honda Element as she waited in line.

CBP officers conducted an intensive inspection of the vehicle and discovered 40 wrapped packages of cocaine, with a street value of $792,000, concealed inside the dashboard.

The driver, a resident of Mexico, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt and transported to the Imperial County Jail, pending arraignment.

CBP seized both the vehicle and narcotics.