Over 40 Pounds Of Cocaine Found In US Citizen’s Vehicle At Border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said officers in California seized more than 40 pounds of cocaine found inside the vehicle of a U.S. citizen at the Mexico border.

CBP officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego on July 1 were conducting “roving” pre-inspection operations when a canine alerted to a white Toyota Rav4 that was waiting in line.

The driver, a 24-year-old U.S. man, was instructed to open his trunk, and the canine alerted officers to the area of the rear seats. A physical inspection revealed brick-shaped packages wrapped in black tape. The vehicle was taken to a secondary inspection area for a nonintrusive imaging scan, which revealed additional anomalies within the seats.

In total, officers extracted 10 packages from the rear cargo area and another five packages from the front seats. Testing confirmed the packages contained cocaine weighing a total of approximately 40.38 pounds and valued at an estimated $775,296.

CBP seized the cocaine, the vehicle and a cell phone. The driver arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.

“This significant seizure is a direct result of our layered enforcement strategy in action,” said San Ysidro Port Director Mariza Marin. “By combining tactical roving operations and highly trained canine teams with nonintrusive imaging technology, our officers successfully intercepted these dangerous narcotics before they could reach our communities.”