San Ysidro, California - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the San Ysidro port of entry arrested a United States citizen on May 12 after discovering 78 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle he was driving.

The incident occurred at about 12:30 a.m., when a CBP officer conducting inspections of vehicles and travelers entering the U.S. referred the driver, a 56-year-old male, for further examination.

At the secondary inspection area, CBP officers conducted an intensive inspection that included a canine screening of the driver's brown Chevy Malibu. Officers subsequently discovered 57 wrapped packages of methamphetamine hidden inside the floor of the vehicle. The methamphetamine had a street value of approximately $1,560,000.

The driver, a resident of San Diego, California, was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations agents and transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center facility where he awaits arraignment.

CBP seized both the vehicle and narcotics.