CALEXICO, Calif., – Strike one, strike two! U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers are in the zone as they seize another narcotic shipment concealed within pallets of radishes, at the Calexico Port of Entry.
On Jan. 31, at approximately 7:15 p.m., CBP officers encountered a 24-year-old male driver of a tractor trailer, with another shipment manifested for radishes. During initial inspection, a CBP officer referred the driver and tractor trailer for further examination.
At the inspection area, a non-intrusive inspection was conducted of the tractor trailer. CBP officers also requested a CBP human/narcotic detector dog to screen the shipment, to which he alerted CBP officers to the presence of narcotics.
During the inspection, CBP officers discovered and extracted a total of 1,590 packages concealed within the shipment of radishes. The narcotics were tested and identified as methamphetamine with an approximate weight of 4,563 pounds, and an estimated street value of $5,475,600.
“Outstanding work by our CBP officers” said Roque Caza, Port Director for Calexico Port of Entry. “These smuggling attempts are efforts to deceive and misguide us; however, our officers and law enforcement partners are always working together to improve the safety of our communities.”
The driver, a Mexican citizen, was detained for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt. CBP officers turned the driver over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further disposition.
CBP officers seized the tractor, trailer, and narcotics.
CBP officers at the border crossing in Southern California stop illegal activity while processing millions of legitimate travelers into the United States.
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