Plane, drugs worth $1 million seized in Mexicali

Cocaine, 'crystal' meth confiscated, four detained

TIJUANA – Military and police authorities confiscated an airplane believed used to smuggle drugs into the United States, as well as 58 pounds of cocaine, 26.4 pounds of methamphetamine and weapons in two raids last weekend in Mexicali.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $1 million, the authorities said.

Around 2 a.m. Saturday, state police stopped three suspects who were moving suitcases from an Explorer to a Mustang in the Vista del Valle neighborhood in Mexicali.

The men were carrying two suitcases allegedly containing 34 packages of "crystal" methamphetamine that weighed 25.2 pounds, according to the state police force known as the PEP.

The men – identified as Misael Olguín Parra, Javier Salas Castelo and Alfonso Alcalá Ruiz – were detained.

In addition, police allegedly found on Olguín's clothes 1 ounce of cocaine and $3,120 in cash.

According to the PEP, Olguín disclosed that the drugs were from Sinaloa and were being hidden in a ranch in the communal area known as Islas Agrarias B.

When authorities arrived at the site they detained another man, identified as Ricardo Barajas Peralta, who allegedly was carrying a .22 caliber pistol and three doses of cocaine in his pants.

Police said that an inspection of the ranch yielded a light airplane believed used to smuggle drugs into the United States. They also found a container with 17.5 ounces of "crystal" meth and a plastic bag with 1.6 ounces of the same substance.

The PEP had already received reports from Mexicali residents and from the U.S. Border Patrol that an airplane was crossing into the United States from an area near the city's airport.

The agency also seized two vehicles with U.S. plates, a truck and 5,200 pesos (about $387).

Also on Saturday in Mexicali, around 2 p.m., Mexican soldiers on routine patrol discovered a Isuzu SUV carrying around 58 pounds of cocaine, said the spokesman for the Second Military Zone, infantry Maj. Bernardo Sánchez.

The soldiers found the vehicle's engine running but no driver and occupants.

Omar.millan@sandiegored.com

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