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  4. CBP Officers Seize $5.2M in Drugs, Capture 13 Fugitives

CBP Officers Seize $5.2M in Drugs, Capture 13 Fugitives

Release Date
Mon, 07/03/2017

Officers discovered two men hiding among cargo of Persian limes.

SAN DIEGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the ports of entry along the California border with Mexico over the weekend intercepted 700 pounds of narcotics valued at more than $5.2 million, captured 13 fugitives and discovered two men hiding amongst Persian limes.

From Friday, June 30, through Sunday, July 2, CBP officers intercepted more than 300 pounds of methamphetamine, 223 pounds of cocaine, 22 pounds of fentanyl, 77 pounds of marijuana and more than 45 pounds of heroin. CBP officers discovered the narcotics hidden inside vehicles in various places such as spare tire, seats, floor, gas tank, and quarter panels.

CBP officers discovered cocaine inside a vehicle transmission.
CBP officers discovered cocaine
inside a vehicle transmission.

During the same time period, 13 fugitives were arrested for various charges that included DUI, probation violation, burglary and assault.

A couple of significant seizures are listed below.

On Saturday, July 1, at approximately 10 a.m., at the San Ysidro port of entry, a CBP officer conducting inspections encountered a 57-year-old male Mexican citizen and Legal Permanent Resident driving a white Lincoln Navigator. The CBP officer observed inconsistences in the man’s story and referred him for a more intensive inspection. During the inspection, CBP officers discovered 34 pounds of cocaine hidden in the vehicles transmission. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $509,000.

On Sunday, July 2, at approximately 1:30 p.m., at the Otay Mesa Cargo port of entry, a CBP officer conducting inspections encountered a 23-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a Tractor Trailer carrying Persian limes. The officer referred the man and tractor trailer to secondary for a more intensive inspection. CBP officers searched the inside of the trailer and discovered two men hiding between the front wall of the trailer and pallets of Persian limes.

CBP officers seized all vehicles and narcotics. All suspects were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further processing.

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 on the CBP Enforcement Statistics webpage.

Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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