CALEXICO, Calif. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Calexico East port of entry discovered approximately $225,750 worth of hard narcotic hidden inside the quarter panels and rocker panels of a pickup truck.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at about 4:15 a.m., when a CBP officer conducting primary inspections encountered a 47-year-old male Mexican citizen and legal permanent resident of the U.S. driving a Honda Ridgeline. The officer referred both the driver and vehicle for a more in-depth examination.
During the intensive inspection, officers utilized the port’s imaging system and a CBP canine team to search the vehicle and discovered 33 wrapped packages of methamphetamine inside the quarter panels and rocker panels.
The weight of the narcotic was 65 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $225,750.
The driver, a resident of El Centro, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt. CBP officers turned him over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigation agents for further processing. The man was later transported to the Imperial County Jail where he currently awaits arraignment.
CBP seized the narcotic 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