see also: in April 2007 News Releases:   CBP Officers at O’Hare Seize $6.7 Million Worth of Cocaine   CBP Officers Seize $8 Million Worth of Marijuana at Calexico Port   CBP Border Patrol Rescues Three   U.S., Mexican Officials Announce Grand Opening Of Brownsville SENTRI Lane   Funcionarios de Estados Unidos y México Anuncian Inauguración del Carril SENTRI en Brownsville   First Mobile Sensor Tower Arrives In Arizona   Frequent Traveler Charged with Marijuana Smuggling ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

San Diego — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa passenger ports seized more than a ton of marijuana, 58 pounds of cocaine, 2.6 pounds of heroin and 2.7 pounds of methamphetamine in 29 incidents during the week of Monday, April 16 through Sunday, April 22. Officers also identified scores of immigration violations, including a SENTRI registered participate who was arrested for allegedly smuggling a Mexican woman into the United States. In addition, officers apprehended 19 fugitives and intercepted eight prohibited plant and animal materials.

Officers made 24 marijuana seizures throughout the week for a total weight of 2,274 pounds. The largest marijuana seizure of the week occurred at the San Ysidro on Wednesday, April 18 at 4 a.m. when CBP officers discovered 171 pounds of marijuana concealed in the bed of the 1988 Ford F-150 pickup truck. Officers arrested the driver, a 55-year-old Tijuana man, when a narcotic detector dog alerted to his vehicle as he waited in line for inspection.

Officers seized 58 pounds of cocaine in three separate incidents, a 2.6 pound heroin seizure and one methamphetamine cache of 2.7 pounds. The street value of the narcotics confiscated throughout the week is worth approximately $7.5 million.

At about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21, CBP officers working at the Otay Mesa passenger border station arrested a 20-year-old U.S. citizen registered to participate in the SENTRI frequent traveler program after they discovered an undocumented Mexican female hidden in the 1995 Ford Escape she was driving. The driver was sent to the secondary area where officers found the female hidden under a blanket in the back of the vehicle

The driver was arrested and transported to the San Diego County jail to await arraignment for the failed smuggling attempt. Her SENTRI privileges were revoked.

During the week, officers apprehended 19 fugitives with outstanding warrants for various offenses such as forgery, kidnapping, and parole and drugs violations.

Officers also intercepted eight prohibited plant and animal materials from entering the United States such as avocados, mangos, pork products and a rooster. CBP is charged with preventing the introduction of harmful plant and animal pest or disease that a traveler may bring into the U.S. through agricultural products that could harm the livestock and agriculture industries of the United States.

“These enforcement actions demonstrate the continued commitment of CBP in keeping dangerous contraband and people from entering this country,” said Port Director Oscar Preciado. “We believe our narcotic seizures are up due to tighter border security;” Preciado said.

During the first five-month of fiscal year 2007, CBP officers at the Port of San Ysidro (which encompasses the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa passenger ports) have confiscated almost 46,000 pounds of narcotics, detected 19,250 immigration violations and apprehended a total of 568 fugitives.

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.