Trucker convicted of transporting drugs By SILVIO J. PANTA, Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 11:01 PM PST
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Drugs are seen in the back of a tractor trailer. More than 3,800 pounds of drugs were seized.
A jury convicted a long-haul trucker Wednesday of a single count of illegally transporting more than 3,800 pounds of marijuana shortly after closing arguments were made in the case.
Defendant David Garcia Davila, who was out of custody after posting bond, was remanded into police custody and ordered to appear for sentencing Feb. 5.
Imperial County Deputy District Attorney Jon Willis said the defendant could face up to three years in prison.
Davila knew that there was 3,824 pounds of packaged marijuana concealed in a shipment of compressed straw inside the cargo container of his tractor trailer, Willis said in his closing statement.
In addition, Davila intended to drive the drug into Los Angeles on March 3 but was stopped five miles north of the checkpoint on northbound Highway 86. The tractor trailer was “waived through” after a brief inspection of his documents by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, according to a police report.
Apparently, 24 bales of the compressed Bermuda straw slated for Japan was missing to make room for the marijuana, Willis said.
Davila had been under surveillance by agents with the state’s Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, the Border Interdiction Team and another agency when they were in the area of Cole Road and Highway 111 in Calexico.
Willis said that a blue plastic seal commonly used to seal the rear doors of trailers was apparently broken. The broken seal was found in the left pocket of Davila’s coat during his arrest, authorities said.
" Hope that the trucker rots in jail and that others learn from this to not get involved in the same thing. "
pinomatus wrote on Jan 8, 2009 8:28 AM:
" the bleeding heart already spoke. twice. "
ledman wrote on Jan 8, 2009 8:12 AM:
" One of my all time favorite movies. "Blow". "
cvilla wrote on Jan 8, 2009 6:21 AM:
" The system has to change in processing crime. "
ungrateful wrote on Jan 8, 2009 4:36 AM:
" That much weed and he's only going to do three years? "
marygb wrote on Jan 8, 2009 2:31 AM:
" I don't mean a dog being hired w/paycheck..LOL, I mean, brought on board to do a job a human being is yet not able to sniff out. "
marygb wrote on Jan 8, 2009 2:30 AM:
" Where are the drug sniffing dogs? Most of the time, they are not at the check points. Agents cannot smell these drugs, but dogs sure can. I would hope that although it means an agent here and there may be out of a job, due to a dog being trained and hired..these drugs will hopefully not get through. Drugs are destroying the fabric of America. I just watched the movie titled: Blow,(based on a true story) last night and although I think Johnny Depp is a fantastic actor, who played an awesome role. It sure didn't saddened me to see him live out the rest of his life behind bars. Sorry, I have no patience for liars, drug dealers or thieves. Okay, lets hear from the "bleeding hearts." "
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oscarb9 wrote on Jan 8, 2009 11:14 AM: