U.S. Border Patrol Agents Foil 4 Narcotics Smuggling Attempts at San Diego Area Checkpoints

Agents Seize More Than $1.7 Million of Cocaine, Meth and Heroin

San Diego — U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to San Diego Sector checkpoints along Interstate 8 near Pine Valley and Interstate 5 near San Clemente have seized a total of $1,713,050 of cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin since Wednesday. 

At approximately 7 p.m. yesterday, agents assigned to the I-8 checkpoint encountered a 56-year-old male U.S. resident driver of a white 1996 Nissan Maxima as he arrived to the checkpoint. During inspection, agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor and referred him for a secondary inspection. A Border Patrol K-9 team performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert. Agents searched the vehicle and discovered 14 bundles of cocaine in the gas tank and eight bundles of cocaine in the doors. The cocaine weighed a total of 36.24 pounds and had an estimated street value of $362,400.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, agents assigned to the I-8 checkpoint arrested a 34-year-old male United States citizen for attempting to smuggle 20 bundles of methamphetamine worth an estimated $415,400. A Border Patrol K-9 team alerted to a gold 2006 Ford Focus and agents subsequently discovered 20.77 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside a non-factory compartment in the vehicle’s dashboard.

Earlier Wednesday afternoon, agents assigned to the Interstate 5 checkpoint arrested a 36-year-old male Mexican national for attempting to smuggle 18.62 pounds of methamphetamine. Agents encountered the driver of a white 1994 Ford Explorer and became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor. A Border Patrol K-9 team alerted to the vehicle’s dashboard, and a search revealed four bundles of methamphetamine. Agents also discovered six bundles of methamphetamine in a speaker box. The narcotics are worth an estimated $372,400.

On Wednesday morning around 6 a.m., agents assigned to the I-8 checkpoint encountered a 55-year-old male United States citizen driving a white 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. A Border Patrol K-9 team produced a positive alert to the truck, and a search by agents revealed 12 bundles of methamphetamine and one bundle of heroin inside of the doors. The methamphetamine weighed a total of 26.68 pounds and was worth an estimated $533,600. The heroin weighed 2.25 pounds and had an estimated street value of $29,250. 

All of the suspected smugglers and illicit narcotics involved in the smuggling events were taken into custody and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration or a multi-agency drug taskforce for further investigation. All four vehicles involved in the smuggling events were 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. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.

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