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Calexico, Calif. – In three days, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico Downtown port of entry foiled five cocaine smuggling attempts worth more than $2.5 million, officials announced today.

The most recent interception occurred at about 8:15 p.m., on Monday, March 2, when a 19-year-old male United States citizen walking through the port’s pedestrian area attempted to flee from officers while being escorted to the secondary examination area.

At the pedestrian secondary area, officers discovered two wrapped packages of cocaine strapped to the traveler’s lower back. The packages weighed a total of five pounds with a street value of $45,000.

Officers arrested the San Luis, Ariz., resident for the alleged importation of narcotics into the U.S.

Earlier that day, at about 2:30 p.m., a CBP officer conducting vehicle primary operations referred a 40-year-old female Mexican citizen in a black, 2004 Chrysler Pacifica to the secondary examination area after he observed the driver displaying signs of nervousness.

At the secondary examination area, officers using a detector dog discovered 27 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed within the floor of the vehicle. The packages weighed a total of 73 pounds with a street value of $657,000.

Officers arrested the Mexicali resident for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.

The third interception occurred at about 8:45 p.m., on Sunday, March 1, when officers escorted a gold, 2001 Chevy Blazer with California plates to the vehicle secondary examination area after a detector dog alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary enforcement operation.

After an intensive inspection, officers discovered 32 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed inside the vehicle’s gas tank. The packages weighed a total of 77 pounds with a street value of $693,000.

Officers arrested the driver, a 25-year-old female U.S. citizen and resident of Calexico, for the alleged illegal importation of narcotics.

The fourth seizure occurred earlier that day at about 4:45 p.m., when a 62-year-old male United States citizen along with two female U.S. citizens, a 65-year-old and a 47-year-old, in a silver, 2005 Volvo XC-90 were referred to the secondary inspection area after a detector dog alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary enforcement operation.

Upon further inspection of the vehicle, officers discovered 35 wrapped packages of cocaine hidden within the floor. The packages weighed a total of 88 pounds with a street value of $792,000.

Officers placed the male driver and two female passengers, all residents of Downey, Calif., under arrest for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.

The fifth interception occurred at about 3:45 p.m., on Friday, February 27, when officers referred a 31-year-old female resident of Coachella, California driving a silver, 1997 Nissan Sentra to the secondary examination area after a detector dog alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary enforcement operation.

Officers found 16 wrapped packages of cocaine inside the vehicle’s gas tank. The packages weighed a total of 42 pounds with a street value of $378,000.

Officers arrested the driver, a United States citizen, for the alleged importation of narcotics into the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.