A U.S. citizen was apprehended and is set to face federal prosecution after officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) discovered her in possession of cocaine and fentanyl. The arrest took place last week as the woman attempted to pass through the Calexico West Port of Entry.
Calexico area port director, Roque Caza, stated, "Narcotics smugglers use elaborate methods to attempt to smuggle their deadly products into our country." He added, "Fortunately, our CBP officers and their K-9 partners are highly skilled and were able to seize these narcotics before they could make it into our communities."
According to a CBP news release, the woman was driving a white SUV when a K-9 alerted officers to the potential presence of narcotics in her vehicle on Feb. 1 at 10:30 am. At that time, she was waiting in line to enter the U.S. at the Calexico West Port of Entry.
The narcotics were found when officers used an x-ray machine for a secondary inspection of the vehicle. The x-ray revealed discrepancies in the vehicle's fuel tank and oil pan, including over eight pounds of fentanyl powder and slightly more than five pounds of cocaine. Officers retrieved 10 packages from the compartment with an estimated street value of $171,600 for the drugs. A field test confirmed the presence of narcotics.
This seizure forms part of Operation Apollo, which recently reported confiscating 1,800 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,100 pounds of cocaine, 111 pounds of heroin and 1,285 pounds of fentanyl in the San Diego area during fiscal year 2023 according to the news release. Operation Apollo is a collaborative effort involving federal, state and local agencies working together with an aim to eliminate fentanyl and other illicit synthetic narcotics from circulation.
"In my 30 years as a customs official," said CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner, Troy Miller, "the trafficking of synthetic illicit drugs like fentanyl is one of the toughest, most daunting challenges I have ever seen. Through this updated strategy, we will channel the incredible efforts of the men and women of CBP to keep this and other drugs out of the country."
