see also: in September 2008:   Ramey Border Patrol Sector Sponsors Intelligence Training   CBP Arrests Woman at California Port after Discovering 3 Hidden Females   Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Rescue Lost Alien   Customs and Border Protection Warns Floral Importers About Unripe Poppy Pods   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Failing to Register as Sex Offender   El Paso CBP Officers Discover 3,000 Pounds of Marijuana in Shipment of Watermelons   CBP Seizes More Than $360,000 in Undeclared Currency ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

San Diego - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Port of San Ysidro encountered numerous violations while performing anti-terrorism inspections. Over the Labor Day weekend, CBP officers seized almost 600 pounds of narcotics, discovered dozens of immigration violations, and arrested 13 wanted fugitives.

From Saturday, August 30, through Monday, September 1, CBP officers made six marijuana seizures totaling 544 pounds, one 28 pound heroin seizure, and a methamphetamine seizure of 20 pounds. All eight drivers were arrested in connection with the failed smuggling attempts. The narcotics and vehicles were seized by CBP.

The largest marijuana seizure occurred on Saturday at about 1:30 a.m., at the San Ysidro port of entry after officers found 129 pounds of the drug hidden in the rear seat, tool box, and engine of a 2002 Dodge Dakota pick truck driven by a 58-year-old man from Garden Grove, Calif.

Later that same day at about 8pm, officers at San Ysidro also discovered 28 pounds of heroin hidden in a 1999 Volkswagen Jetta driven by a 30-year-old man from Fullerton, Calif. The heroin was hidden in a non-factory compartment located in the rear wheel wells of the vehicle.

On Monday at about 11 a.m., officers found 20 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the sidewall of a 1980 Ford F-150 pick up when it came through the Otay Mesa port of entry, driven by a 41-year-old Tijuana man.

Over the last three days, CBP officers have apprehended 13 people wanted on outstanding felony warrants for such crimes as burglary, larceny, child neglect, and dangerous drugs.

Officers at the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro border stations also stopped 171 violators attempting to illegally enter the country with fraudulent documents, as imposters on valid documents, making oral false claims to U.S. citizenship, and attempting to enter without inspection.

“While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories,” said San Ysidro Port Director Oscar Preciado.

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.