(FOX5NY.COM) - Federal officers at a U.S.–Mexico border crossing near San Diego, California, arrested an elderly American woman whose car contained hidden heroin worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"The cartels will try and manipulate anyone to smuggle their narcotics through the ports of entry," Pete Flores, the director of field operations for the San Diego area, said in a news release. "CBP officers are aware of the many tactics used by the cartels and remain ever vigilant to stop anyone attempting to smuggle narcotics."
A CBP K-9 team at the Tecate port of entry was screening vehicles coming from Mexico on Wednesday morning when the dog alerted the handler to the driver-side rocker panel of a 2011 Chrysler 200.
Officers inspected the car and found 34 packages of heroin hidden in the car's panels. CBP estimated the 92 pounds of heroin to be worth more than $870,000 on the street.
Officers arrested the driver of the car, an 81-year-old woman, and turned her over to Homeland Security Investigations agents.
CBP field ops officers and U.S. Border Patrol agents have seized 4,560 pounds of heroin this year through July 31, according to the agency's enforcement statistics.