February 12, 10

NEWS / CBP Arrests 6 with Drugs Strapped to Bodies within 24 Hours

San Diego — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at San Diego and Imperial County, Calif. ports of entry arrested six teens and young adults with narcotics concealed under their clothing as they entered the U.S. from Mexico, all within a 24-hour period beginning Tuesday morning.


At about 9 a.m. on Tuesday, a 21-year-old Chula Vista woman and SENTRI member entered the San Ysidro border station as a pedestrian. A CBP officer and a detector dog were screening pedestrians waiting in line to be inspected when they encountered the woman and the dog alerted to her. She was handcuffed for officer safety and escorted to a secure location for further investigation.


Officers found a cellophane-wrapped package of cocaine strapped to her waist. The cocaine, weighing 2.6 pounds, has a street value of $26,455.


The woman was arrested and transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center and her SENTRI privileges were revoked. CBP seized the cocaine.


Also yesterday at 12:30 p.m., as a CBP officer and his canine were screening pedestrians entering the country through the San Ysidro port of entry, the detector dog alerted to a 24-year-old San Diego man. The man was escorted to the secondary area for further processing.


Officers subsequently discovered a bag containing marijuana in the small of his back and four bags containing marijuana in his shoes, two bags per shoe. The man had almost a half a pound of marijuana on his possession.


He was arrested and transported to the San Diego County jail. CBP seized the marijuana.


From yesterday at 6 a.m. through 6 a.m. this morning, CBP officers also apprehended four other U.S. citizens at ports of entry with narcotics strapped to their bodies; two females ages 19 and 14, and two males ages 17 and 13.


CBP officers seized almost 10 pounds of marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine from the six individuals valued at almost $49,000.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/02102010_9.xml