SAN DIEGO — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro port of entry this past weekend intercepted two attempts to smuggle 292 pounds of liquid and crystalized methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of more than $2.9 million.
On May 30, at 9 a.m., a 27-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a 1993 Ford pickup truck entered the border crossing for inspection. The vehicle and driver were referred for a more intensive examination.
During a more in-depth inspection, a CBP canine team searched the vehicle and the detector dog alerted to the gas tank area of the truck. The gas tank was removed and found to contain 166 pounds of liquid methamphetamine.
The driver was arrested and transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center. CBP seized the vehicle and methamphetamine.
In a separate incident on June 2, at 4:45 a.m., a 22-year-old male U.S. citizen entered the United States driving a 1972 Ford pickup truck with a 19 year-old U.S. citizen male passenger. The CBP officer at the booth inspected the gas tank of the vehicle and observed that the fuel appeared abnormal. The CBP officer referred the vehicle for further inspection.
The gas tank was removed and CBP officers found 126 pounds of liquid and crystalized methamphetamine contained within.
The driver and passenger were arrested and transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center. CBP seized the vehicle and methamphetamine.
“Today’s drug trafficker is willing to go to extreme lengths in order evade detection, including dangerous and unstable methods of transportation,” said San Ysidro and Otay Mesa Port Director, Sidney Aki. “CBP officers continue to rise to the challenge of detecting these new methods of concealment in order stop dangerous drugs from getting into our communities.”