see also: in August 2002:   U.S. Customs Inspectors Seize $3 Million in Cocaine, Methamphetamine in Three Seizures at Eagle Pass Port of Entry Wednesday   U.S. Customs Service and Food & Drug Administration Uncover Dumping Scheme Involving Contaminated Honey Imports From China   U.S. Customs Inspectors Deployed to Seaport of Rotterdam in Container Security Initiative   Customs Set to Begin Phase 3 of Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism   Manhattan Money Transfer Operator Convicted of Money Laundering, Violation of U.S. Embargo on Trade With Iran   Customs Seizes Smuggled Ketamine ...more

contacts for this news release

OTAY MESA, CA--U.S. Customs Service inspectors working at the Otay Mesa port of entry on Wednesday morning seized over 1,200 pounds of marijuana from an empty tractor trailer truck, officials announced today.

The seizure was made at around 11:30 a.m. on August 14 after inspectors targeted the vehicle during an unannounced enforcement operation, officials said.

A Customs narcotics detector dog alerted to the trailer during a subsequent secondary examination of the California-plated tractor-trailer. The vehicle was screened with a non-intrusive Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS) x-ray system that revealed a discrepancy in the roof of the trailer.

After removing the roof with power tools, inspectors discovered 171 wrapped packages of marijuana weighing 1,281 pounds and valued at over $500,000.

The driver, 28-year old Rey Vargas-Camacho of Tijuana, Mexico, was arrested by U.S. Customs special agents and subsequently transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center, officials said.