Woman Caught with $160K in Crystal Meth by CBP Officers at LAX

Release Date: 

July 27, 2016

LOS ANGELES —U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) seized 11.24 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, hidden within the lining of a passenger’s suitcase on July 18th. The estimated value of the seized contraband is $160,000.

CBP Officers at LAX discovered 11.2 pounds
of crystal meth hidden in passenger's
suitcase

CBP Officers referred a 27-year-old U.S. citizen female from San Ysidro, CA that was arriving from Guadalajara, Mexico for a secondary inspection due to her nervous behavior. A further inspection of the passenger’s baggage revealed a false compartment containing tape-wrapped packages of crystallized methamphetamine. 

“Once again, the training, expertise and commitment of our LAX CBP Officers prevented dangerous narcotics from entering and harming our community.” said Mitchell Merriam, CBP Los Angeles International Airport Port Director.

False compartment containing $160K worth
of crystallized methamphetamine

The passenger was subsequently arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents, along with the seized contraband, for further investigation.

CBP is responsible for inspecting all arriving and departing international passengers, to include conducting searches for narcotics, weapons, currency, agriculture, and other prohibited or illicit products. On a typical day, CBP seizes more than 9,000 pounds of narcotics at and between our nation’s 328 international ports of entry.

CBP Officers Discover Undocumented Chinese Man in Gas Tank

Release Date: 

August 1, 2016

CALEXICO, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico East port of entry thwarted a human-smuggling attempt on Friday after discovering a man concealed in a specially-built compartment in the gas tank of a Ford F-150 pickup.

Shortly after 7 a.m., a 41-year-old male Mexican citizen entered the East port driving a 1998 Ford F-150.  During his inspection, a CBP officer noticed the driver appeared nervous and referred him aside for a more intensive inspection.

While inspecting the pickup, officers utilized the port’s imaging system and detected anomalies in the vehicle’s gas tank.  The officers continued searching the gas tank and discovered a man concealed inside a hidden compartment.

CBP officers find a man concealed
in modified gas tank.

The hidden compartment was built into the top half of the gas tank.  The bottom half of the gas tank contained enough gasoline for the pickup’s operation.

Officers extracted the man, a 31-year-old Chinese citizen, from the compartment through an access panel in the bed of the pickup and escorted him to a secure location for further processing. 

The driver, a resident of Mexicali, was arrested and will face federal charges related to the incident.  He was later transported to the Imperial County Jail to await arraignment.

CBP placed an immigration hold on the undocumented man to initiate removal from the United States at the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.

Officers seized the vehicle.

More than $1.2 Million in Hard Drugs Seized in Nogales

Release Date: 

August 3, 2016

TUCSON, Ariz. – Customs and Border Protection officers arrested four Mexican men during separate attempts last week to smuggle cocaine and methamphetamine through the Dennis DeConcini crossing.

The first incident occurred July 29 when officers referred a 30-year-old resident of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for a secondary inspection of his Volkswagen SUV. A positive alert by a CBP narcotics-detection canine led to the discovery of nearly 39 pounds of cocaine, worth close to $440,000, within a non-factory compartment inside the vehicle’s center hump. 

Officers also found nearly 48 pounds of cocaine, valued in excess $540,000 in a vehicle driven by a 26-year-old resident of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. A canine’s alert also led officers to more than 13 pounds of cocaine, worth in excess of $150,000, in a GMC SUV driven by 28-year-old resident of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

CBP officers at the DeConcini crossing removed
close to 32 pounds of meth, when they removed the
vehicle's gas tank.

On July 28, officers referred a 51-year-old lawful permanent resident living in Phoenix for an inspection of his Chevrolet truck and found close to 32 pounds of methamphetamine, worth more than $95,000, inside the vehicle’s gas tank.

In all, officers seized four vehicles, approximately 100 pounds of cocaine and 32 pounds of meth. All subjects were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

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