SAN DIEGO (KSWB/KUSI) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than $1 million worth of cocaine from a “trusted traveler” attempting to cross the border at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in California earlier this week.
Officials said the bust involved a 25-year-old U.S. citizen driving a 2020 Honda Civic who was enrolled in the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspections (SENTRI) program, which is designed to expedite border crossings for pre-approved, low-risk travelers.
The driver was referred for a secondary inspection, where CBP officers used nonintrusive imaging technology and detected irregularities in the vehicle’s doors. A K-9 unit also alerted to the presence of narcotics.
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A further search uncovered 20 packages hidden inside the doors of the car, totaling more than 60 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $1.1 million, officials said.
“This arrest is a clear message that no one is above the law,” said San Ysidro Port Director Mariza Marin. “We will hold everyone accountable for their actions, especially those who betray the trust of our traveler programs by attempting to smuggle dangerous narcotics.”…