SAN DIEGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the ports of entry in San Diego County over the holiday weekend intercepted more than 2,500 pounds of narcotics, apprehended 25 fugitives, and stopped nine individuals who crashed a van in an attempt to enter the country illegally, from Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25.
“This past weekend demonstrates my officers’ commitment to keeping our country safe,” said San Diego CBP Director of Field Operations Pete Flores. “They continue to produce results and provide a benefit to the community in which we live.”
A driver crashed a van into a barrier after driving northbound in the southbound lanes of the Interstate 5 freeway at the San Ysidro port of entry in an illegal entry attempt.
CBP officers intercepted more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana, 257 pounds of methamphetamine, 170 pounds of cocaine, and 18 pounds of heroin with a street value of more than $6.7 million. CBP officers discovered the narcotics in vehicles and cargo trucks and in various locations throughout the conveyances such as the fuel tank, dashboard, fire extinguisher, and quarter panels among others.
CBP officers also captured 25 wanted individuals when they entered the ports of entry on active outstanding felony warrants for such crimes as larceny, burglary, counterfeiting, and embezzlement.
In addition, at about 2:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, CBP officers at the San Ysidro port of entry noticed people climbing over the fence in Mexico west of the border crossing, and running eastbound along the southbound lanes of Interstate 5. The people ran to a green Dodge Caravan with California license plates that was parked just south of the border line in Mexico, and got in. After the people jumped in, the driver then took off heading northbound in the southbound lanes of I-5 into the U.S., before losing control and crashing into a cement barrier along the freeway, about 15 yards north of the border line into the U.S.
CBP officers rendered immediate medical aid to the nine people apprehended from the crashed illegal entry attempt.
CBP officers responded immediately to the scene, and apprehended the people that attempted to flee from the van, and also took those that remained inside into custody. In total, CBP officers took nine people into custody, apprehending everyone from the van except the driver, who fled to Mexico. No other vehicles were involved in the crash, and no officers or third parties sustained any injuries during the reckless driving the wrong way on the freeway, and subsequent crash.
CBP officers trained as medical first responders rendered immediate aid until emergency medical services personnel responded to the port of entry. All nine persons in custody were evaluated on scene; five were transported to local hospitals, before being cleared and released.
CBP officers processed all nine persons, and found that all nine were Mexican citizens with no legal documents to enter the United States. Of the nine, all were men; one 17-year-old, one 22-year-old, one 29-year-old, one 31-year-old, three 32-year-olds, one 33-year-old, and one 34-year-old. All nine will be returned to Mexico.
CBP officers at the border crossings in Southern California routinely stop illegal activity, while processing millions of legitimate travelers into the United States.