CBP seizes 73 pounds of drugs and discover woman hiding in a dashboard at Calexico Port of Entry

Weekend enforcements by The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the downtown Calexico port of entry have resulted in the seizure of 73 pounds of narcotics stashed in two vehicles, as well as the discovery of a woman inside the dashboard of a small Sedan.

On Friday, May 3, CBP officers encountered a 21-year-old male U.S. Citizen and resident of Mexicali, Baja California, driving a 1988 Ford Ranger as he approached a vehicle inspection booth. CBP officers say they screened his truck using the port’s imaging system and detected anomalies in the roof area of the camper shell.

According to officers, they inspected the area and discovered 24 wrapped packages containing 56 pounds of methamphetamine worth $90,000 hidden inside a compartment built into the roof of the shell.

On Saturday, May 4. CBP officers encountered a 35-year-old male Mexican citizen and a legal resident of the United States driving a 2012 Jeep Liberty SUV.

Officers say during the initial inspection, an officer noticed tampering around the transmission housing of the vehicle and referred both the driver, a National City resident and his car for further examination where a canine alerted to the vehicle’s undercarriage.

Officers found 16 wrapped packages containing 17 pounds of heroin worth $130,000 stashed inside the transmission of the vehicle, agents say.

The drivers of both vehicles were arrested for the alleged narcotics smuggling attempts and turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations agents. They were both later booked into Imperial County Jail.

On Monday, May 6, CBP officers encountered a 30-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a 2010 Chevy Aveo. A canine team screened the Aveo as the driver awaited inspection, and the human and narcotics dog alerted to the vehicle’s interior. Officers say they escorted the driver and vehicle for further examination where they found a woman behind the dashboard area.

Officers say they extracted the woman, a 43-year-old, Mexican citizen from the dashboard and escorted her to a secure location for medical evaluation and further processing.

Once emergency medical responders assessed the woman’s wellbeing, CBP officers confirmed that she had no legal ability to enter the United States and took her into custody.

The driver was arrested and later transported to the Imperial County Jail to await criminal arraignment on federal human smuggling charges.