Tijuana Police Officer Faces Drug Charges

A Tijuana police officer was arrested this week, accused of trying to smuggle 5 kilos of methamphetamine into the United States, officials said Friday.

Juan Francisco Garcia Peralta was detained by U.S. Customs officials at the San Ysidro port of entry Wednesday afternoon after a drug-sniffing dog alerted agents to the narcotics hidden in the police officer’s van, said Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for the San Diego office of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. The INS said inspectors also found $27,000 hidden inside the vehicle’s hood.

Garcia, a patrol officer for the Tijuana Police Department’s tourist division, has been on the force for five years. He remains in custody in San Diego and is scheduled to enter a plea May 30.