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  4. CBP Officers Make “Grate” Discovery: Find Narcotics Inside Wheels of Cheese; Officers Also Arrest Man Suspected of Smuggling Meth on Bike

CBP Officers Make “Grate” Discovery: Find Narcotics Inside Wheels of Cheese; Officers Also Arrest Man Suspected of Smuggling Meth on Bike

Release Date
Tue, 04/29/2014

CALEXICO, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Calexico downtown port of entry over the weekend intercepted $45,500 worth of methamphetamine in two separate smuggling attempts. CBP officers at the Calexico downtown port of entry found five pounds of methamphetamine in this bike trailer.

CBP officers at the Calexico downtown port of entry found five pounds of methamphetamine in this bike trailer.The first incident occurred on Saturday, April 26, at about 1:20 a.m., when a CBP canine team was screening vehicles and the detector dog alerted to a 43-year-old male U.S. citizen riding a bicycle towing a container of recyclable materials.

During the inspection, the officers detected anomalies within the container and escorted the man to a secure area for further examination. Further search of the container led officers to the discovery of five wrap packages of methamphetamine concealed under aluminum cans, and bottles of glass and plastic.  The weight of the narcotics was five pounds with a street value of approximately $32,500. 

The man, a resident of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, was arrested and turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents for further processing.

The second incident occurred later in the day, at about 11:40 a.m. when a CBP agriculture specialist encountered a 62-year-old male U.S. citizen entering the port through the pedestrian area.

CBP officers at the Calexico downtown port of entry found methamphetamine hidden in this cheese wheel.

During the inspection, the CBP agriculture specialist detected anomalies to the wheels of cheese that the man was carrying.  The agriculture specialist then referred the man to a CBP officer for further examination.CBP officers at the Calexico downtown port of entry found methamphetamine hidden in this cheese wheel.

CBP officers searched the cheese and discovered four wrapped packages of methamphetamine concealed inside the cheese wheels. The weight of the narcotic was two pounds with a street value of approximately $13,000.

The man, a resident of Brawley, was arrested and turned over to the custody of HSI agents for further processing.

Both subjects were transported to the Imperial County Jail to await arraignment.

CBP seized the bicycle and the 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