SAN FRANCISCO — A man and a woman were arrested in the Bay Area over the past month on charges that they attempted to smuggle 68 pounds of methamphetamine and more than a pound of heroin into the United States, court records show.
Christopher Jefferson and Yelda Shams are facing federal charges in Southern California, related to an Oct. 18 incident when they were allegedly caught at the Mexican border with a car full of drugs. Border protection agents found 63 packages of methamphetamine that were concealed in quarter panels and the gas tank of a 2021 Infinity G50, according to the criminal complaint.
A package of heroin weighing 1.34 pounds was also allegedly seized.
Jefferson allegedly told agents that he and Shams spent the weekend at a rental property in San Felipe and were simply returning from the trip. The drugs were discovered by a dog and with a fiber optic inspection scope, authorities allege.
Jefferson was arrested in late October in Santa Clara County and has since been released from federal detention at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, court records show. Shams was arrested Monday in Pleasanton, according to jail records.
Federal prosecutors in El Centro charged Jefferson and Shams with two counts of importing a controlled substance. The methamphetamine importation charge carries a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison.
Source: www.mercurynews.com