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.