60 Pounds of Cocaine Seized, Calexico Resident Arrested at Border
U. S. Customs officials seized more than 60 pounds of cocaine--worth $2.5 million--from a Calexico man attempting to drive across the Calexico Port of Entry, authorities said Tuesday.
Miguel Angel Aguayo Aguilera, 37, a legal resident of the United States and a laborer, was crossing the border about 6 p.m. in a 1977 Thunderbird, authorities said.
But a U. S. Customs inspector observed “symptoms of stress” in Aguayo’s behavior and referred the car to secondary inspection, where the drug was found under the back seat, said Bobbie Cassidy, a U. S. Customs spokeswoman.
Aguayo was arrested by U.S. Customs and Drug Enforcement Administration officials and faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a $4-million fine. He will receive at least 10 years in prison if convicted, Cassidy said.
Allan Rappoport, U. S. Customs district director, said Tuesday’s seizure brings the total amount of cocaine seized by the San Diego district this fiscal year to 2,302 pounds. The fiscal year ends June 30.
During the 1988 fiscal year, 2,872 pounds of cocaine were seized by the San Diego district.
Aguayo is being held in the Calexico city jail. His arraignment was scheduled for today.
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