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  4. Calexico CBP Officers Uncover Almost 400 Pounds of Marijuana Stashed in Tour Bus

Calexico CBP Officers Uncover Almost 400 Pounds of Marijuana Stashed in Tour Bus

Release Date
Fri, 02/06/2015

CALEXICO, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico East port of entry Thursday arrested the driver of a commercial touring bus after discovering more than 391 pounds of marijuana concealed inside the vehicle’s fuel tank.

Packages of marijuana found inside a compartment built in the fuel tank of a commercial bus.

Packages of marijuana found inside a compartment built in the fuel tank of a commercial bus.

The incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. on February 5, when a CBP officer encountered a 43-year-old Ensenada man after he arrived at the port driving a 1997 Prevost touring bus. The officer referred the driver and vehicle for a more in-depth examination.

During the inspection, a CBP narcotics detector dog alerted to the vehicle’s undercarriage.  Officers continued searching the bus, and after utilizing a fiber-optic scope, subsequently discovered 41 wrapped bundles concealed inside a hidden compartment built into the vehicle’s fuel tank.

The bundles were extracted from the fuel tank and field-tested positive as marijuana, with an estimated street value of more than $176,000.

The driver, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations agents for further processing.

He was later transported to the Imperial County Jail to await arraignment.

CBP seized the bus and narcotics.

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