October 23, 2007  San Ysidro, California
U.S. Customs agents find 23 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a gas tank

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro, California port of entry arrested a U.S. citizen after officers discovered over 58 pounds of cocaine hidden in the vehicle she was driving as she entered from Mexico Tuesday night, officials announced today.

Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team officers conducting roving operations in the vehicle lanes encountered the 19-year-old woman from Los Angeles driving a 1998 Ford Expedition as she waited for inspection at about 9 p.m. Officers became suspicious when the driver exhibited signs of nervousness.

While inspecting the vehicle, officers noticed irregularities and utilized a detector dog that alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the Expedition.

Officers escorted the driver and vehicle to secondary inspection for a more in-depth investigation.

During the secondary examination, officers discovered 23 wrapped packages of the narcotic hidden within the gas tank. The narcotic is valued at about $600,000.

The driver was arrested and transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center to await arraignment in federal district court on drug smuggling charges. The vehicle and narcotics were seized by CBP.

Source: US Customs