see also: in March 2006 News Releases:   Customs and Border Protection Seized the Moment at Elementary School   CBP Donates Thousands of Seized Clothing Items and Toys to Those Affected by Hurricane Rita   Cooperative Effort Between CBP Border Patrol and Mexican Police Leads to Narcotic Seizure and Arrests   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Thwart Human Smuggling Attempt   Aduanas Y Proteccion Fronteriza Recomiendan Tramitar Con Tiempo Permiso I-94 Durante Semana Santa   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Urges Easter Holiday Travelers to Apply Early for I-94 Documents   Sarita Checkpoint Seizures Net Marijuana and Cocaine ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

San Clemente, Calif., - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents struck another major blow to drug traffickers as they attempted to smuggle 78 pounds of cocaine in the under carriage of a pickup truck through the San Clemente Border Patrol Checkpoint.

Yesterday morning, Border Patrol agents were conducting routine checkpoint operations on northbound I-5 around 9:15 a.m. when a blue pickup truck pulled up to the primary inspection point with two occupants. As the driver of the truck rolled down the window to speak to the agent, the agent instantly smelled a foul odor emanating from the cab, and noticed an obvious nervous demeanor of the occupants. The driver of the truck handed the agent two temporary visitor visas, one of which appeared to have been altered. At this point, the agent referred the truck to secondary inspection.

While in secondary, agents asked for and were granted consent to freely search the interior and exterior of the truck. A Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the presence of contraband from the point where the cab meets the bed of the truck. During a physical search of the vehicle, agents noticed areas on the under carriage of the vehicle that appeared to have been covered up with a bondo-like substance, and some makeshift welding. Agents drilled a small hole through the bondo, and when the drill bit was removed, it was covered with a dark brown, tarry substance, and the foul odor that was previously noticed grew stronger. Twenty-eight complete bundles of cocaine, wrapped in gray duct tape, and two partially destroyed bundles which had melted due to their proximity to the muffler, were subsequently discovered. The estimated street value of the cocaine is $2,502,400.

Agents also discovered that the visa that was presented by the driver to the agents upon the initial encounter was in fact a false document.

At about the same time of this seizure, Border Patrol agents seized three large duffel bags containing 226 pounds of marijuana, near Jacumba, CA. The marijuana has an estimated street value of $180,560. It was reported that agents from the Boulevard Border Patrol Station had observed three individuals carrying large duffel bags on their backs in a desolate area of the border. When the agents responded to the area, the subjects dropped the bags and attempted to flee back into Mexico. One of the individuals was apprehended and held for further investigation.

The San Diego Sector Border Patrol has seized over 22,000 pounds of marijuana and 116 pounds of cocaine since October 1, 2005, the beginning of the Fiscal Year.

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.