By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine worth an estimated street value of $9,118,000 over the weekend at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, federal authorities said.
On Saturday, officers encountered a 21-year-old woman driving a 2007 SUV, applying for admission around 4 .m. into the U.S. from Mexico. The driver was referred to a secondary inspection for further examination. Officers utilized the ports imaging system to identify irregularities in the roof and passenger side quarter panels of the vehicle. They interdicted 57 packages from the vehicle weighing 152.33 pounds. The packages were field tested and identified as cocaine with an estimated street value of $1,174,700.
Later that evening, officers encountered a 64-year-old man driving a commercial passenger bus, just after 10 p.m., applying for admission into the U.S. from Mexico. An officer referred the bus for further inspection. A non-intrusive examination of the bus was conducted, and officers discovered 60 packages concealed in the air conditioning exchange and spare tire of the bus. The narcotics were field tested and identified as cocaine weighing 144.84 pounds with an estimated street value of $1,116,900.
On Sunday, at 1 p.m., officers encountered a 36-year-old female driving a 2007 sedan applying for entry into the U.S. from Mexico. During the initial inspection, an officer noticed the spare tire was heavier than normal and radioed for assistance. A CBP K-9 team screened the vehicle and received a positive alert to the presence of narcotics. Officers seized 34 packages from the spare tire, rear doors, and passenger side door area of the vehicle. Thirty packages were tested and identified as fentanyl pills weighing 75.17 pounds and four packages were tested and identified as methamphetamine weighing 4.23 pounds. The narcotics have a combined estimated street value of $6,826,345.
“Phenomenal job this weekend by our CBP officers who work diligently to protect America’s front line and secure the border,” said Mariza Marin, Port Director of the San Ysidro Port of Entry. “Continuing to combat Transnational Criminal Organizations and disrupt the flow of illicit narcotics will always be a priority.”
The drivers were turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations for further processing. The narcotics and vehicles were seized by CBP officers.
This seizure is part of Operation Apollo. Operation Apollo is a joint regional operation composed of federal, state, and local agencies working to combat the threat from fentanyl, and other illicit synthetic narcotics.
