U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted more than 40 pounds of cocaine hidden inside a vehicle at the San Ysidro port of entry.
The seizure, which carries an estimated street value of $775,296, took place on July 1, according to an official CBP statement.
The contraband was discovered in a white Toyota RAV4 driven by a 24-year-old U.S. citizen attempting to cross through the port of entry.
The discovery unfolded when a CBP canine unit alerted officers to the vehicle during a routine preliminary inspection.
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After the driver was instructed to open the trunk, the K-9 team directed agents to the rear seat area, where initial suspicions were confirmed. A subsequent search revealed multiple brick-shaped packages wrapped in black tape, prompting officers to send the truck to a secondary inspection zone for further examination.
There, non-intrusive imaging technology detected additional anomalies in the vehicle’s seating. Agents ultimately extracted 10 packages from the rear cargo section and five from the front seats.
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Field tests confirmed the contents as cocaine, with a combined weight of approximately 40.38 pounds.
In addition to the narcotics, CBP seized the vehicle and a cell phone linked to the driver, who was arrested and subsequently transferred to Homeland Security Investigations for processing. The agency did not disclose the individual’s identity or additional charges.
Since President Donald Trump took office, CBP has reported seizing 83,854 pounds of cocaine nationwide through March 31, 2026, according to the statement.
