October 1, 09

NEWS / California CBP Finds Marijuana in Stuffed Cooler, Traffic Cones

San Diego — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro border crossing early Monday morning found marijuana hidden in a cooler, traffic cones, and box of roofing shingles in the bed of a utility truck attempting to enter the United States.


On September 28, at about 2 a.m., a 43-year-old male U.S. citizen, and resident of San Fernando, Calif., driving a white Chevy utility truck attempted to enter the United States at the San Ysidro port of entry.

CBP officers referred the driver and truck for a more intensive inspection, and discovered anomalies in the truck’s cargo area after a gamma-ray screening. During a subsequent screening, a narcotic detector dog also alerted to the truck bed.


Officer discovered a total of 68 packages of marijuana hidden in various items lying in the truck bed. Officers found packages in a cooler; six tall, skinny, orange traffic cones; and six boxes of roofing shingles. The 168 pounds of marijuana are worth an estimated $100,000.


CBP officers seized the truck and narcotics and turned custody of the driver over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The driver is currently at the San Diego County jail facing federal narcotics smuggling charges.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/09292009_5.xml