Authorities seize more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine at Calexico port

2 min read

Border Protection officers detected anomalies during an X-ray inspection of a rebar-laden trailer at the Calexico Port of Entry and, working alongside Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, used a narcotics detection dog to confirm suspicion. After unloading 269 bundles of rebar and removing wooden floorboards, agents found more than 1,000 pounds (about 454 kilograms) of cocaine with an estimated street value exceeding $20 million. Jose Manuel Lopez, 44, the truck's sole occupant, was arrested and charged with importing cocaine and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years; a detention hearing is set for Aug. 3.

Authorities seized more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine at Calexico port.