During a 24-hour period at ports of entry along the California border with Mexico, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized a total of 368 pounds of narcotics valued at more than $1 million.
A significant seizure occurred on Thursday at the Tecate port of entry at about 3:40 p.m., when CBP officers encountered a 24-year-old female Mexican citizen driving a 2009 Dodge Caliber and referred her the vehicle for an in-depth investigation.
CBP officers utilized a density meter on vehicle’s floor and received an abnormal reading. A canine team screened the vehicle and the dog alerted to the floor area.
CBP officers removed 63 packages of methamphetamine weighing 142 pounds with an estimated street value of $482,000.
The second incident occurred at the Otay Mesa port of entry at about 5 p.m., when a 43-year-old male Mexican citizen driver and his two minor children in a 2016 Mazda 3, were referred for a more in-depth inspection.
A canine team screened the vehicle and the dog alerted to one of the children’s seats.
CBP officers removed seven packages of methamphetamine concealed in the bottom of the child’s seat. The drugs weighed eight pounds and was valued at $27,000.
During the 24-hour period from 11 a.m. yesterday to 11 a.m. today, CBP officers also intercepted 191 pounds of methamphetamine and 27 pounds of marijuana hidden inside vehicles within various locations such as, the fuel tank, spare tire and quarter panels.
“These seizures are reflective of the vigilance demonstrated by our officers and their committed to keeping drugs off our streets,” said Pete Flores, director of field operations for CBP in San Diego.
On a Typical Day in Fiscal Year 2016, CBP…
PROCESSED:
- 1,069,266 passengers and pedestrians
- 326,723 incoming international air passengers and crew
- 53,786 passengers and crew on arriving ship/boat
- 688,757 incoming land travelers
- 282,350 incoming privately owned vehicles
- 74,417 truck, rail, and sea containers
- $6.3 billion worth of imported products
CONDUCTED:
- 1140 apprehensions between U.S. ports of entry
- 22 arrests of wanted criminals at U.S. ports of entry
- 752 refusals of inadmissible persons at U.S. ports of entry
DISCOVERED:
- 404 pests at U.S. ports of entry and 4,638 materials for quarantine: plant, meat, animal byproduct, and soil
SEIZED:
- 7,910 pounds of drugs
- $289,609 in undeclared or illicit currency
- $3.8 million worth of products with Intellectual Property Rights violations
IDENTIFIED:
- 877 individuals with suspected national security concerns
INTERCEPTED:
- 20 fraudulent documents
EMPLOYED 59,221 MEN AND WOMEN, INCLUDING:
- 22,910 CBP officers
- 2,416 CBP Agriculture specialists
- 19,828 Border Patrol agents
- 639 Air Interdiction agents (pilots)
- 334 Marine Interdiction agents
- 232 Aviation Enforcement officers
DEPLOYED:
- More than 1462 canine teams and 400 horse patrols
FLEW:
- 217 hours enforcement missions over the United States
UNDERWAY (FLOAT):
- 76 float hours-enforcement missions in the United States
CONDUCTED OPERATIONS IN:
- 51 countries with more than 911 CBP employees working internationally
- 328 ports of entry
- 135 Border Patrol stations and 6 substations within 20 sectors, with 35 permanent checkpoints
- 14 Air and Marine branches, 5 National Security Operations, and 1 Air and Marine Operations Center
(Based on FY 2016 Data)
(Learn More about U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP, and its tremendously complex and important mission. As the nation’s largest law enforcement agency, we’re responsible for securing our borders while facilitating lawful travel and trade. Courtesy of CBP and YouTube)
Learn more about how CBP secures our nation’s borders at www.CBP.gov.
Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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.
