Charter bus carrying more than 190 pounds of meth busted at Calexico Port of Entry

A 36-year-old man was arrested on July 20 at the Calexico Port of Entry after allegedly carrying more than 190 pounds of methamphetamine concealed inside the fuel tank of a charter bus.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers said the man who was driving a 1997 Dina Viaggio bus applied for entry into the United States. CBP said an officer referred the charter bus and driver for further inspection.

During the inspection, CBP officers utilized the port’s imaging system and noticed abnormalities in the vehicle’s fuel tank. A canine team subsequently screened the bus and alerted to the undercarriage.

According to CBP, officers continued searching the bus and discovered 45 wrapped packages of methamphetamine hidden in a non-factory compartment inside the diesel tank.
CBP said the total weight of the methamphetamine was 190 pounds with a street value of $304,000.

CBP officers seized the bus and narcotics.

The driver, a resident of Ensenada, Baja Mexico, was arrested for the alleged narcotics smuggling attempt. CBP said officers turned him over to Homeland Security Investigations agents for further processing.