CBP U.S. Border Patrol Seizes More Than $250K in Cocaine in North San Diego County

San Diego — U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a 32-year-old male Mexican national near San Clemente, Calif. on April 17 for smuggling more than 25 pounds of cocaine in a 2000 Dodge Dakota pickup truck.

At approximately 5:45 p.m., agents on patrol near the I-5 Border Patrol checkpoint conducted a vehicle stop on a truck. During the stop, agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor. Agents determined the man was illegally present in the U.S. and arrested him.

A Border Patrol canine team was summoned and performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle which resulted in a positive alert near the driver’s side door.

Agents searched the vehicle and discovered nine cellophane-wrapped bundles containing 25.35 pounds of cocaine concealed in a bag behind the driver’s seat with an estimated street value of $253,500.

The suspected drug smuggler and narcotics were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to a multi-agency drug task force. The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

To prevent illicit smuggling of humans, drugs and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on major corridors of egress away from our nation’s borders.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.