$700,000 Seized in Cocaine Smuggling Incidents

Calexico U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico, Calif. ports of entry made a pair of cocaine seizures Wednesday and Thursday. CBP officers discovered a total of more than 71 pounds of cocaine worth in excess of $700,000 hidden in two California-plated cars that entered the east and west passenger ports facility. On Wednesday, CBP officers working at the downtown port of entry discovered 17 wrapped packages of cocaine weighing almost 44 pounds hidden within a special compartment inside the gas tank of a 1995 Ford Bronco after it entered the port at about 1:30 p.m. During a secondary inspection of the vehicle, a human/narcotic detector dog alerted to the gas tank area of the vehicle. The driver, a 20-year old male U.S. citizen who resides in Calexico, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The narcotics, valued at approximately $440,000, and the vehicle were seized by CBP. On Thursday evening, CBP officers at the east port passenger facility found 11 wrapped packages of cocaine weighing 27.4 pounds concealed within a non-factory compartment beneath the center console of a 2007 Toyota Rav4 after it entered the port at about 7:30 p.m. The vehicle was escorted to the secondary inspection lot after a human/narcotic detector dog alerted to suspicious odor. The 25-year-old male driver, a U.S. citizen who resides in Calexico, and a 23-year-old Mexican female passenger, were arrested by ICE agents. The narcotics, worth approximately $274,000, and the vehicle were seized by CBP.