see also: in July 2008:   CBP Discovers 2.7 Tons of Marijuana on Cargo Box Truck   Holiday Travel Reminder for Northwest Border Crossers   Current, Former CBP Employees Assist in Arrest of Purse Snatchers   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Failure to Register as Sex Offender   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault on Minor   CBP Revokes Trusted Traveler Privileges After Finding Prohibited Items During Inspection ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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San Ysidro, Calif. – A 22-year-old San Diego man and registered participant in a trusted traveler program was arrested late last night after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered more than 60 pounds of marijuana hidden in his vehicle after he entered the San Ysidro port of entry from Mexico.

CBP officers became suspicious after a roving narcotics detector dog alerted to the green 1992 BMW 325i as it waited in a Secure Electronic Network for Traveler’s Rapid Inspection fast-pass lane at about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

The driver was immediately detained and the vehicle was removed to the secondary inspection lot where officers found a total of 23 wrapped packages of marijuana weighting 60.28 pounds under the rear seat, rear seat rest and spare tire. Officers also found $5,112 in cash in the driver’s front pants pocket.

The driver was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center to await arraignment for the alleged smuggling attempt. His SENTRI privileges were revoked.

The vehicle, narcotics and cash were seized by CBP.

“SENTRI participants are regarded with a higher level of trust and confidence,” said Gurdit Dhillon, CBP director of field operations in San Diego. “If that trust is broken, we will make every effort to revoke the individual’s membership and initiate prosecution.”

The SENTRI program was implemented at the Otay Mesa passenger port of entry in 1995 and at the San Ysidro facility in 2000. More than 100,800 travelers from both sides of the border currently are registered in the vehicle SENTRI program in the San Diego/Tijuana area.

As of June 30, CBP officers at the six ports of entry on the California/Mexico border have confiscated over 163,000 pounds of narcotics, detected over 34,700 immigration violations and apprehended a total of 1,506 wanted fugitives so far this fiscal year. The federal fiscal year began on October 1, 2007.

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.