Border Patrol confiscates $2.4 million in narcotics by land and sea
June 16th 2012 · 8 Comments
Law enforcement officials disrupted three drug smuggling efforts in San Diego and Ventura Counties the past few days. Border Patrol agents apprehended a total of 22 suspects and confiscated approximately $2.4 million in marijuana and crystal methamphetamine.
The California National Guardsmen working with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) alerted area Border Patrol agents assigned along the state’s coastline to a suspicious panga-style boat coming ashore near Deer Creek beach in Ventura County. Working with several law enforcement agencies, U.S. Coast Guard, California National Guard, California State Parks and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, agents captured 20 suspected drug smugglers and seized marijuana with a reported street value of $2 million.
“Border Patrol agents responded to the scene and, through the collaborative efforts of several agencies, arrested 20 suspected smugglers and confiscated 4,087 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $2,048,095,”according to the CBP. All the suspects, narcotics, and the panga-boat were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) for further investigation.
In another incident Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 5 checkpoint encountered two male American citizens driving a Mazda 626. The men’s nervous demeanor alerted agents who sent the vehicle to the secondary inspection area. After Border Patrol K-9 performed a cursory inspection, the dogs warned agents to a positive scent for illegal drugs.
“Agents searched the vehicle and discovered four bundles of methamphetamine inside the trunk in plastic grocery bags,” according to Michael Jimenez, a CBP supervisor in San Diego. “The methamphetamine weighed 12.02 pounds and had an estimated street value of $240,400.” Both the suspected smugglers and the illegal narcotics were taken into custody and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for further investigation.
The final incident occurred just north of the I-5 checkpoint at a fast food restaurant parking lot. A Border Patrol K-9 team happened to be patrolling in the area of the restaurant when the dogs alerted agents to a positive drug scent. “As the agent exited his vehicle, the K-9 alerted him to the trunk of a nearby silver 2011 Toyota Camry. A subsequent search of the trunk revealed nine bundles of marijuana,” Jimenez said. “The bundles weighed 231.28 pounds and had an estimated street value of $115,690. The marijuana and vehicle were taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.”
Border Patrol encourages citizens to contact the San Diego U.S. Coast Guard Joint Harbor Operations Center at 800-854-9834 to report any suspicious maritime activity along Southern California’s coastline.
A version of this column originally appeared in www.examiner.com.
Incoming search terms:
- Mexican Drug Cartels in 2012
Related Posts:
Tags: Border Patrol Agents, California National Guard, California State Parks, Crystal Methamphetamine, Cursory Inspection, Customs And Border Protection, Deer Creek, Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug Smugglers, drug smuggling, enforcement, Few Days, Illegal Narcotics, Immigration And Customs Enforcement, land, Land And Sea, Law Enforcement Officials, Marijuana, Mazda 626, Narcotics, Panga Boat, Plastic Grocery Bags, San Diego, Sea Law, Security Investigations, smuggling, Style Boat, total, U S Coast Guard, Ventura Counties, Ventura County Sheriff
Loading ...
Our border patrol work their butts off while our President works against them. Between BO and the DOJ, you are prone to fail.
[Translate]
goverment grown drugs , well lets see they grow it , supply it and then they have someone sell it to a buyer$$$. buyer arrested , fine which goes back to the goverment $$ through local court system $$$. the buyer either pays a fine or goes to jail. when the buyer that got caught now is in jail which now he no longer is free but is now a slave not only to the drug but imprisoned . now the taxpayer foots the bill for food and shelter , medical and clothing while that buyer is in jail $$$.
[Translate]
Let me guess those crossing the borders with the Illegal drugs etc where legal… even I can’t say that with a straight face.
[Translate]
Pam, have you been smoking refer? Your words say you are. Seem’s like some really good smoke? How can I get intouch with you? That’s alot of thinking on your part, was your head on fire when you stopped?
[Translate]
Go BP, congrats on your mission!
[Translate]
“One if by land, two if by sea, and I in the U.S.A. will be…”
[Translate]
@Pamela Daniel…your OWS group is calling, you are late for koolaid hour again…..
[Translate]
Thank You— Border Patrol for your enforcing the law!!!!!
[Translate]