U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at a California checkpoint discovered more than one million dollars worth of illegal drugs stashed in a concealed compartment on a trailer.
The incident began around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 28, at the Calexico commercial facility when a Mexican CMV driver attempted to make entry into the United States.
The truck was referred for a secondary inspection.
Using the port’s imaging system, CBP officers discovered “anomalies” on the front bottom area of the trailer.
A canine unit was sent in to perform further inspection on the vehicle. The dog alerted to the presence of narcotics, CBP said.
Officers discovered a specially built compartment on the floor of the trailer that contained 38 packages of cocaine weighing approximately 105.20 pounds.
CBP says that the cocaine has an estimated street value of $1.4 million.
The truck, trailer, and drugs were seized by CBP.
The truck driver was handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) .
“Smugglers are constantly utilizing innovative methods to conceal narcotics,” said Anne Maricich, CBP Deputy Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “Our K-9 team serves as a vital asset in keeping harmful drugs off our streets.”