IMPERIAL VALLEY, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the local ports of entry over the weekend seized a total of about $260,000 worth of heroin and methamphetamine in two separate incidents.
The first incident occurred at about 9:15 p.m. on July 3, when a CBP officer at the Andrade port of entry encountered a male U.S. citizen driving a 2006 Honda Accord. The officer noticed the man, a 33-year-old resident of Glendale, Arizona, appeared to be exhibiting signs of nervousness, and referred him for further inspection.
While conducting an intensive search, a CBP narcotics detector dog alerted to the vehicle, leading officers to the discovery of 19 wrapped packages concealed inside of three of the vehicle’s four doors.
The packages field-tested positive for methamphetamine and yielded a total weight of almost 23 pounds, with an estimated street value of almost $150,000.
The second incident occurred shortly after midnight on July 5, when a 23-year-old female U.S. citizen entered the Calexico downtown port of entry driving a 2001 Hyundai Accent sedan. A CBP officer referred the driver, a resident of Calexico, and vehicle for a more in-depth examination.
A CBP canine team screened the Hyundai and the detector dog alerted to the vehicle’s undercarriage. Officers continued their search and ultimately discovered 13 wrapped packages concealed in compartments built into both of the vehicle’s rocker panels.
Once extracted, ten of the packages field-tested positive as methamphetamine, weighing almost eight pounds and three tested positive for black tar heroin, weighing more than six pounds, with a combined street value of approximately $110,000.
In both cases, the drivers were arrested and turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations agents for further processing. Both subjects were transported to the Imperial County Jail to await arraignment.
CBP seized the vehicles and narcotics.