May 12, 2009  Pine Valley, California
CBP Officers seized 364 lbs of marijuana from three different individuals.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Douglas port of entry intercepted three narcotics smuggling attempts totaling 364 pounds of marijuana.

On May 12, 2009 at around 2:30 p.m., a 24-year-old Mexican national was driving a 1993 Ford Taurus. The man applied for entry into the United States through the vehicle primary lanes. A Customs and Border Protection officer screening travelers waiting to enter the U.S. selected the male and his vehicle for inspection. A CBP narcotic detector dog also alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle. Intensive search of vehicle yielded packages hidden throughout the interior of vehicle. CBP officers removed 32 packages containing 66 pounds of marijuana.That same day at around 4:30 p.m., an 18-year-old female Mexican national was driving a 1998 Ford Ranger. The female applied for entry into the United States through the vehicle primary lanes. A Customs and Border Protection officer screening travelers waiting to enter the U.S. selected the female and her vehicle for inspection. The woman was taken to the vehicle secondary inspection area where the officers conducted an intensive inspection with the assistance of a narcotic detector dog "Grand". The dog alerted the officers to the gas tank and tires of the vehicle. The tires contained metal collars that were securely fastened to the rims allowing the tires to be properly inflated. All compartments contained tightly compressed marijuana. A total of 202 pounds of marijuana was removed from these compartments.

On May 13, 2009 at around 7 p.m., a CBP officer was screening travelers entering the U.S. from Mexico. The CBP officer referred a 21-year-old female Mexican national driving a 1994 Mercury Cougar. At the secondary inspectional area, a closer inspection of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 46 packages hidden throughout the interior of vehicle. The total weight of the narcotic was 96 pounds of marijuana.

The vehicles and marijuana were seized and cases were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation.

Source: US Customs and Border Protection