The San Ysidro border crossing has a new x-ray machine to help screen for contraband coming from Mexico. Customs and Border Protection officials say its the first machine of its kind at the border. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has more.
The xray machine sits at the entrance to San Ysidro's secondary inspection.
That's where agents send vehicles for extra screening.
Agents in secondary, in some cases, would tear cars apart in a sort of Easter Egg hunt for illicit items.
Patrick Simmons, who's a director with Customs and Border Protection, says the new xray machine allows agents to see what they're after and where it is.
Patrick Simmons: We can tell right away if someone is hiding a weapon on them. It's a very big plus for the officers. And again, it cuts down the time in which they have to spend inspecting a vehicle. So it benefits the officer. It benefits the passenger. It benefits the driver.
Customs agents say they've seized more than 3000 pounds of drugs since they began using the machine a week ago.
No statistics are available for the quantity of drugs agents would find in a week in secondary without the machine.
Amy Isackson, KPBS News.
