Custom Border Protection officers snag $1M of cocaine hidden in floor of SUV. Photo: CBP
SAN DIEGO–Within a 5 hour period on Wednesday U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro port of entry and PedWest facility seized over $1 million in cocaine and apprehended a U.S. fugitive wanted for homicide.
A significant seizure occurred June 21, at about 2 a.m., at the San Ysidro port of entry when CBP officers encountered a 62-year-old male Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident of the U.S. driving a Ford Explorer. During the inspection, a CBP officer noticed discrepancies with the car and referred the man and vehicle for further investigation.
Officers utilized a canine team to screen the vehicle and the dog alerted. CBP officers discovered 28 packages hidden inside a specialty built floor compartment. The packages contained cocaine and weighed more than 75 pounds with an estimated street value of over $1 million. The man was arrested and turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations agents for further processing.
The second incident occurred later that morning at the San Ysidro PedWest facility at about 7 a.m., when Mexican Officials turned over a 35-year-old male U.S. citizen, Alan Machain, who was wanted for homicide-murder. A CBP officer conducted a query to get biometric information via the “Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System” (IAFIS). The information revealed that he was wanted by Los Angeles Police Department on an outstanding felony warrant for homicide-murder, with bail set at $2 million.
“CBP officers continue to combat the drug trafficking originations attempts to smuggle narcotics into the U.S.” said Pete Flores, director of field operations for CBP in San Diego. “CBP’s apprehension of the fugitive is a prime example of why partnerships between the U.S. and other countries are useful in assisting CBP’s mission of securing the Nation’s borders.”
CBP seized the vehicle and narcotics.
