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  4. CBP Officers at Calexico Area Ports Seize a Total of 208 Pounds of Meth in Two Days

CBP Officers at Calexico Area Ports Seize a Total of 208 Pounds of Meth in Two Days

Release Date
Fri, 05/24/2019

IMPERIAL VALLEY, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Imperial Valley ports of entry intercepted 208 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside rocker panels, firewall, doors and quarter panels of two vehicles this week. 

The first incident occurred at the Calexico East port of entry on Monday, May 20.  A CBP officer inspected a Honda Civic with a 36-year-old male U.S. citizen driver from Palmdale.  The officer requested a canine team to screen the vehicle due to the driver’s response to routine questions, where a canine positively alerted to a narcotic odor.  Officers escorted the driver and vehicle to the secondary inspection area for a more in-depth examination.

An officer scanned the vehicle using the port’s imaging system and detected unusual anomalies.   A physical search of the vehicle revealed 28 wrapped packages of methamphetamine concealed within the rocker panels and firewall.

The methamphetamine weighed 64 pounds with an estimated street value of $103,000.

The driver was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling and the vehicle was seized.

CBP officers stop 2 meth smuggling attempts.
CBP officers stop 2 meth smuggling attempts.

The second incident occurred at the Andrade port of entry on Tuesday, May 21.  A 2002 Chevrolet Tracker, driven by a 26-year-old male U.S. citizen from San Luis, Ariz., was referred to secondary for a more in-depth inspection.

A canine team alerted to the vehicle’s rear driver side door.   During the thorough search of the vehicle, officers discovered 137 wrapped packages of methamphetamine secreted inside all four doors and quarter panels.

Methamphetamine weighed a total of 144 pounds, with a street value of approximately $230,800.  

The driver was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.  The narcotic and vehicle were seized. 

CBP officers turned both drivers over to Homeland Security Investigation agents for further processing and eventual transportation to the Imperial County Jail. 

CBP officers at the border crossings in Southern California routinely stop illegal activity, while processing millions of legitimate travelers into the United States.  Those statistics can be found here: CBP-enforcement-statistics

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 securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021