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  4. California CBP Officers Seize Almost 800 Pounds of Marijuana

California CBP Officers Seize Almost 800 Pounds of Marijuana

Release Date
Wed, 12/22/2010

Calexico, Calif. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Calexico cargo port of entry yesterday discovered 783 pounds of marijuana in a false front wall compartment of a refrigerated trailer pulled by a 2000 Freightliner tractor.

The driver, a 53-year-old male Mexican citizen from Mexicali, and the tractor and trailer entered the port for inspection at about 10:30 a.m. with cargo manifested as coriander, beets, and spinach. During the inspection, a CBP officer noticed discrepancies with the cargo and referred the conveyance and driver for an in-depth examination.

Officers scanned the tractor and trailer with the port's gamma-ray imaging system which revealed anomalies within the front wall of the refrigerated trailer. Upon a closer look at the trailer, officers discovered a false front wall. They drilled a hole though the front wall and extracted a green leafy substance that field-tested positive for marijuana.

Officers subsequently extracted 43 large wrapped packages of marijuana, valued at almost $356,000, from the false wall compartment.

CBP seized the conveyance and marijuana. The driver was arrested and transported to the Imperial County Jail.

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.
Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021