San Diego | 638 Pounds of Marijuana Seized By Customs and Border Patrol

In the first incident, a 31 year old Tijuana truck driver registered in the FAST, Trusted Traveler Program was arrested after CBP officers noticed he was acting suspiciously entering the Otay Mesa Cargo Area.  The driver was instructed to move his rig to a secondary inspection area. Further inspection revealed 58 packages of marijuana hidden within the sleeper area of the cab, weighing a total of 419 pounds.

The driver, a participant in the Free and Secure Trade program (FAST), was transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center to await arraignment in federal court on drug smuggling charges.

In the second incident, several hours later at the San Ysidro port of entry, officers with the ports Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team, targeted a 2000 Jeep Cherokee waiting in line to be inspected. Officers using a density scanning machine, on the vehicles tires, received abnormal readings.

Upon further inspection, using x-ray equipment the tires revealed to pack with 30 packages of what turned out to be marijuana. The total haul in this bust: 219 pounds.

The 27 year old driver from Ensenada was arrested and sent to the San Diego County Jail. Both the vehicle and marijuana were seized.

Some background information on the “FAST” program. The Fast program is a border accord between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The program was designed to ensure the safety and security of transporting commercial shipments at cargo ports of entry.

Eligibility for the FAST program requires participants (carriers, drivers, importers and southern border manufacturers) to submit an application, agreement and security profile. The FAST program allows known, low risk commercial cargo shipments to receive expedited border processing at cargo ports.

source: Customs and Border Patrol press release, photographs courtesy of CBP