U.S. Border Patrol officers seized over 90 pounds of cocaine from two smugglers in southern California after a K-9 alerted authorities to the presence of a large haul of stashed narcotics.
El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended two U.S. citizens attempting to smuggle 92 pounds of cocaine in Indio, California, on Monday 15 January. The estimated street value of the drugs is more than $1.04 million, according to United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
During the seizure, at approximately 2:50 p.m. local time, authorities intercepted a white SUV approaching the U.S. Border Patrol Highway 86 immigration checkpoint. During a primary inspection, a K-9 detection team discovered the drug haul.
After further inspections, officers discovered a total of 34 packages wrapped in brown cellophane concealed in a hidden compartment in the vehicle’s ceiling. Officers tested the substances and it came up positive for cocaine.
A file photo of a U.S. Border Patrol agent on the U.S.-Mexico border. Officers have seized 92 pounds of cocaine from two smugglers.
A file photo of a U.S. Border Patrol agent on the U.S.-Mexico border. Officers have seized 92 pounds of cocaine from two smugglers.
MATT YORK/AP
“It’s way too hot for this type of ‘snow’ in the El Centro Sector,” Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino said in a statement. “Indio Station agents melted down plans to bring this poison to drug users in America, and I applaud those agents for bringing the fight to bad people and bad things here in the Premier Sector.”Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Excellent job keeping this poison out of our communities.
The driver, narcotics and vehicle were turned over to the Imperial Valley Border Enforcement Security Task Force as law enforcement officials continue with a further investigation.
It comes after El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents seized 450 Pounds of liquid methamphetamine stashed in a fuel tank on July 8. Agents arrested a 31-year-old Mexican man in connection with the seizure.
In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, 55,771 pounds of cocaine were confiscated by CBP as of June. Furthermore, 81,085 pounds of cocaine was confiscated in 2022-2023.
A file photo of some cocaine. Border Patrol officers seized over 90 pounds of cocaine from two smugglers in southern California.
A file photo of some cocaine. Border Patrol officers seized over 90 pounds of cocaine from two smugglers in southern California.
Steve Parsons/EMPPL PA Wire
CBP officers seized nearly 549,000 pounds of illicit substances nationwide in 2023. The most common seizures by officers were related to marijuana and methamphetamine with 150,000 and 140,000 pounds of the drug seized in the U.S. by law enforcement.
This is part of ongoing CBP efforts to intercept and prevent the trafficking of illicit substances into the United States.
Arrests for illegal migrants entering the U.S. from Mexico fell by 29% in June, to the lowest monthly level of the Biden administration, according to CBP data gathered. There were 83,536 arrests in June, down from 117,901 in May to mark the lowest tally since January 2021.
The CBP canine program is deployed to detect and apprehend “persons attempting entry to organize, incite, and carry out acts of terrorism”, according to the official website. The secondary goal is to detect and help seize controlled substances and illicit narcotics used to fund drug-trafficking gangs.
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Source link : https://www.newsweek.com/america-mexico-border-k9-cocaine-dog-drugs-1928377
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Publish date : 2024-07-22 09:20:39
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