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  4. Calexico CBP Officers Arrest Teen Attempting to Smuggle Methamphetamine

Calexico CBP Officers Arrest Teen Attempting to Smuggle Methamphetamine

Release Date
Fri, 12/27/2019

CALEXICO, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico West port of entry apprehended a 16-year-old boy after finding hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine stashed inside his vehicle on Christmas Eve.

 

At about 12:30 p.m., on Dec. 24, a CBP officer at the Calexico West port of entry encountered the teenager, a U.S. citizen, driving a 2012 Ford Focus.  The CBP officer referred both driver and vehicle for further examination.

 

A CBP canine team was screening vehicles as they awaited inspection in vehicle secondary when the canine gave a positive alert to the 2012 Ford Focus. 

Meth was stashed inside this spare tire and other areas of the teen's car.
Meth was stashed inside this spare
tire and other areas of the teen's car.

 

CBP officers utilized the port’s imaging system to screen the vehicle further a discovered anomalies in the doors, back seat, quarter panels, rocker panels and spare tire.

 

CBP officers removed 205 wrapped packages of methamphetamine weighing 220 pounds.  The narcotics carry an estimated street value of $264,444.  

 

The teen was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt and turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigation agents for further processing.

 

The teenager was transported to the Imperial County Juvenile Detention Center to await arraignment.

 

CBP seized the narcotics and vehicle.

 

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