see also: in May 2002:   U.S. Customs Announces International Counterfeit Case Involving Caterpillar Heavy Equipment   U.S. Customs Inspectors Seize 1,787 Pounds of Marijuana at World Trade Bridge; One Arrested   U.S. Customs Inspectors in Eagle Pass Seize Five Drug Loads in Five Days, Including Three on Monday   U.S. Customs Inspectors Seize $3.6 Million in Cocaine, Methamphetamine at Hidalgo/Pharr Port of Entry Over Weekend   U.S. Customs Task Force Arrests 11 Charged in Heroin-Smuggling Conspiracy in New York and New Jersey   Child Sex Offender Fugitive Wanted by Arizona and Massachusetts Authorities Captured at Brownsville Port of Entry   Mother's Day Delivery at Fabens Port ...more

contacts for this news release

Calexico, California - U.S. Customs Service inspectors working at the downtown Calexico port of entry Sunday evening seized a truck loaded with over 1,000 pounds of marijuana and arrested the driver.

The seizure was made at around 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, after the driver of the California-plated Ford E-350 truck applied for entry into the U.S.

Inspectors became suspicious when Dewayne Joseph Ricks, 20, of Sacramento appeared nervous while making a negative declaration.

During a subsequent intensive examination, a Customs narcotics detector dog alerted to a wall within the passenger compartment area of the truck. Also, an inspector noted an abnormally high reading when he placed his portable "Buster" density meter near the compartment wall.

Probing the wall, inspectors found a green, leafy substance that tested positive for marijuana.

When the wall was removed, inspectors found a total of 130 wrapped packages weighing a total of 1,011 pounds and valued at more than $404,000.

Ricks was arrested for the alleged smuggling attempt by a Customs Service special agent and transported to the Imperial county jail.

On Friday, May 3, Customs inspectors working at the downtown border station seized 76.5 pounds of cocaine found in a 1992 Ford Mustang and arrested two 19-year-old U.S. citizens after they applied for entry into the U.S.

Driver Santiago Marron and passenger Veronica Dina Hernandez, both of San Bernardino, were detained after an Immigration and Naturalization Service canine alerted to their vehicle during an enforcement operation in the pre-primary area of the port.

Customs inspectors found a compartment under the rear seat of the vehicle containing 44 packages of a white powdery substance that field-tested positive for cocaine.

The two were subsequently arrested for the alleged smuggling attempt by a Customs special agent and transported to the Imperial county jail.