January 29, 10

NEWS / Calexico Port Officers Discover Cocaine Load Concealed in Volkswagen Beetle

Calexico, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Calexico downtown port of entry discovered 40 pounds of cocaine hidden inside the spare tire and rear tire wells of a blue 2000 Volkswagen Beetle.


The incident occurred on Wednesday, January 27, at about 10 a.m. when a CBP officer conducting vehicle primary inspections referred the driver, a 37-year-old female Mexican citizen and her 17-year-old son to vehicle secondary for further examination.

An intensive inspection that included a canine screening and x-ray equipment led officers to the discovery of 15 wrapped packages of cocaine. The narcotic has a street value of $360,000.


The driver and passenger, both residents of Calexico, were arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt and turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for further processing. CBP seized both vehicle and narcotic.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/01282010_6.xml