Last Friday evening, a significant narcotics seizure unfolded at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, where Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered approximately 187 pounds of cocaine. The hidden stash was intricately concealed within the rear cargo area of a commercial passenger bus crossing from Mexico into the United States. According to Customs and Border Protection's official report, the bust occurred around 8:20 p.m. with the driver, a 51-year-old man, presenting for admission into the country.
After their initial check, CBP officers inspected an empty bus more closely. They used advanced imaging to scan the vehicle and found irregularities in the cargo area. A K9 team was brought in and alerted officers to possible drugs. Upon further inspection, they discovered hidden packages inside a compartment built into the bus's side walls.
Further into the inspection, officers extracted a total of 70 packages, which testing later confirmed contained cocaine, amounting to a total weight of 187.92 pounds. "Constant innovation is a cornerstone of CBP’s strategy to improve efficiency and security," said Mariza Marin, Port Director of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, in a press release detailing the seizure's significance. "By leveraging technology as a resource multiplier, we optimize our productivity without comprising the highest level of security. This seizure is a testament to our CBP officers' hard work and dedication."
The person found with the drugs was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and CBP officers seized the narcotics and the bus.
