see also: in November 2008:   Thanksgiving Day Marijuana Seizure Yields 450 Pounds at Douglas Port of Entry   Registered Sex Offender Intercepted by CBP at Pacific Highway Entry   CBP Officers Seize 145 Pounds of Ecstasy at Vermont Entry   CBP Officers in Boston Seize Undeclared $19,300   CBP Advises Travelers of Temporary Construction at Otay Mesa Border Crossing   CBP Officers in Niagara Falls Arrest Man Wanted in California   Customs and Border Protection Officers in New York Arrest Imposter ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Calexico, CA - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico Downtown port of entry foiled three cocaine smuggling attempts worth over $1.2 million in three days, officials announced today.

The most recent interception occurred at about 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, when a silver 2004 Mini-Cooper with Baja California plates was escorted to the vehicle secondary examination area after a detector dog alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary enforcement operation.

In the secondary examination area, an intensive inspection resulted in the discovery of 21 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed inside a non-factory floor compartment in the vehicle’s front and rear floor area. The total weight of the cocaine is 54 pounds with a street value of over $428,000.

The driver, a 30-year-old female Mexican citizen and resident of Mexicali, was arrested for the alleged illegal importation of narcotics.

The next seizure occurred on Tuesday, November 18, at about 9:30 a.m. when a 52-year-old male Mexican citizen, driving a silver 2007 Dodge Caliber SXT, was referred to the secondary inspection area after a detector dog alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary enforcement operation.

In the secondary examination area, further inspection of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 17 wrapped packages of cocaine hidden inside the rocker panels of the vehicle. The cocaine weighed a total of 43 pounds with a street value of $346,000.

The male driver, a resident of Culiacan, Sinaloa, was placed under arrest for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.

The last interception occurred at about 8 a.m. on Sunday, November 16, when a 29-year-old male resident of Mexicali driving a black 2001 Chevy Blazer was escorted to the secondary examination area after a detector dog alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary enforcement operation.

During the secondary examination, a total of 23 wrapped packages of cocaine were revealed inside a non-factory compartment in the rear floor area of the vehicle. The weight of the cocaine totaled 59 pounds with a street value of $472,000.

The driver, a Mexican citizen, was arrested 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.