December 11, 2004
A job well done by CBP's San Diego Sector
San Clemente, Calif. - Posted 12/11/04 -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents operating the San Clemente Checkpoint seized over 15,000 lbs of marijuana, and over 143 lbs of cocaine in fiscal year 2004. Also, there were 3,497 arrests made and 103 cases processed for alien smuggling. The arrests were made from the following countries:
Australia, Armenia, Argentina, Brazil, Belize, Burma, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Germany, Honduras, Indonesia, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, Korea, Morocco, Kenya, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Lebanon, New Guinea, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan, United Kingdom and Venezuela.
A recent example occurred on Wednesday, December 8, 2004. When two suspected drug smugglers were arrested driving a 1993 Plymouth Voyager through the San Clemente Checkpoint with over 152 lbs of marijuana concealed in the quarter panels and seats of the vehicle, with a street value of $121,760.00. The driver and passenger were turned over to the North County Drug Task Force.
"The seizure of narcotics occur daily at all of our checkpoints here in San Diego," said San Diego Sector Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Paul Blocker Jr. "The vehicular checkpoints are sometimes the last line of defense we have to ensure that this poison is kept out of the hands of our children. The diligence of our agents and their commitment to interdiction have created a formidable security resource for those concerned with the future of our communities."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
-CBP-
