Calexico, Calif. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico East port of entry arrested a man after they discovered 49 pounds of heroin concealed inside the muffler of the pick-up truck he was driving.
Yesterday morning at about 7 a.m., a 45-year-old Mexicali man arrived at the Calexico East port of entry driving a maroon 1997 Ford F-150 pick-up truck. The primary officer became suspicious of the driver and referred him and the vehicle for a more in-depth inspection.
During inspection, utilization of a detector dog and the port's X-ray imaging system led officers to the discovery of 19 packages of heroin valued at $833,000.
The driver was arrested and booked into the Imperial Country Jail. CBP seized the vehicle and contraband.
This seizure marks the largest heroin seizure this fiscal year for the San Diego Field Office.