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  4. Calexico CBP Officers Find 798 Pounds of Marijuana in False Wall Compartment

Calexico CBP Officers Find 798 Pounds of Marijuana in False Wall Compartment

Release Date
Wed, 09/23/2015

CALEXICO, Calif. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico East commercial facility stopped an attempt to smuggle 798 pounds of marijuana within the false wall compartment of an empty trailer.

The incident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, when CBP officers targeted a 1996 Freightliner tractor that entered the cargo facility with a supposed empty trailer.  Officers referred the commercial truck for a more in-depth examination.

CBP officers at the Calexico East commercial facility found 798 pounds of marijuana within the false wall compartment of an empty trailer.

CBP officers at the Calexico East commercial facility found 798 pounds of marijuana within the false wall compartment of an empty trailer.

During the examination, officers utilized the port’s imaging system and observed anomalies within the front wall of the empty trailer.  A canine team was dispatched to search the trailer and the detector dog alerted to the wall.  CBP officers searched the conveyance and discovered 32 large wrapped bundles stacked inside a non-factory compartment in the front wall of the empty trailer.  The bundles field-tested positive for marijuana and have a street value of approximately $320,000.

The driver, a 30-year-old male Mexican citizen and resident of Mexicali, Baja California, was turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigation agents for further processing.

CBP seized the marijuana, tractor, and trailer.

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