CALEXICO, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico West Port of Entry discovered close to half a million dollars’ worth of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The incident occurred on Sunday, June 4, at approximately 1 p.m., when a 24-year-old female driver of a 2013 black Nissan Maxima applied for entry into the United States.
CBP officers referred the car and driver aside for a more intensive inspection. The vehicle went through a machine, similar to an x-ray, that revealed anomalies in multiple areas of the vehicle. A CBP human/narcotic detecting dog screened the vehicle and alerted CBP officers to the presence of narcotics.
During the inspection, CBP officers discovered and extracted a total of 175 packages from doors, rear quarter panels, rear seats, floor, rocker panels, center console, and gas tank of the vehicle. The narcotics were tested and identified as methamphetamine and fentanyl with a combined weight of approximately 216.35 pounds.
CBP officers arrested the driver, a valid B1/B2 border crossing card holder, for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt; she was turned over to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations for further processing. The driver was later transported and booked into the El Centro Detention Facility.
The narcotics have an estimated street value of $472,740.
The narcotics and vehicle were seized by Calexico CBP officers.
CBP officers at the border crossing in Southern California stop illegal activity while processing millions of legitimate travelers into the United States.