CALEXICO, Calif. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at both Calexico ports of entry thwarted two smuggling incidents; one involving two Mexican men concealed inside a vehicle and 50 pounds of methamphetamine concealed inside a gas tank.
methamphetamine, with a street
value of $70,000.
The first incident occurred on Thursday, Sept. 14, at about 6:05 p.m. at the East port of entry, when officers encountered a 24-year old female Mexican citizen driving in a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse as she applied for entry. At the inspection booth, the CBP officer searched the vehicle and discovered two men hidden in the spare tire wheel well. Officers extracted the two men, a 38-year-old and a 28-year-old, both Mexican citizens.
The driver was arrested for the alleged human smuggling attempt and will be processed by CBP enforcement officers for federal prosecution.
The second incident occurred on Sept. 18, at about 1:45 a.m., when CBP officers encountered a 29-year-old male Mexican citizen at the downtown port of entry driving a 2000 Ford Expedition. The CBP officer referred the driver and vehicle for a more in-depth examination.
A CBP canine team screened the vehicle and the detector dog alerted to the gas tank. Officers searched the vehicle and discovered 50 wrapped packages of methamphetamine, weighing 50 pounds, with a street value of approximately $70,000.
The driver, a resident of Bakersfield, was arrested and turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigation agents for further processing.
Both drivers were later transported to the Imperial County Jail where they currently await arraignment.
CBP seized the narcotics and vehicles.
CBP officers at the border crossings in Southern California routinely stop illegal activity, while processing millions of legitimate travelers into the United States. View those statistics on the CBP Enforcement Statistics webpage.