WINTERHAVEN/ANDRADE BORDER – Two separate incidents at the Andrade port of entry gave U.S. Customs Border Protection Officers significant results. Inspections spiraled into large methamphetamine seizures.
First, an encounter with a female U.S. citizen (26) driving a silver 2009 Volkswagen Routan set the Canine Team into alert mode. The inspection at approximately 6:15 PM on June 26th resulted in a referral for a secondary look at both the vehicle and the driver.
Ninety-five stashed packages were discovered in four areas: the dashboard, quarter- panel, doors, and spare tire. Weighing in at 108 pounds, the illegal narcotics had a street value of approximately $172,800.
As CBP seized the narcotics and vehicle, the anonymous female Yuma resident was arrested for alleged attempted narcotic-smuggling.
Next, a suspicious driver in a gold Toyota Camry was tagged for further inspection on June 30th at 2 PM. The officers trotted-in the canine team, who together revealed 55 bundles of meth hidden inside the vehicle’s doors.
Weighing 56 pounds, the street value of the drug bust was approximately $90,144. The Mesa, Arizona driver was arrested for his alleged narcotic-smuggling attempt.
The intensive inspections ended with the seizure of both the vehicles and the illegal narcotics. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents stepped in for further processing and transport of the alleged drug smugglers to the Imperial County Jail.
