It was a busy two days this week when Border Patrol agents arrested people on I-15, SR-94, and I-5 within 24-hours who were transporting narcotics valued at $770,012.
On Monday at approximately noon, agents initiated a vehicle stop on a 1999 Audi A4 near Interstate 15 and Deer Springs Road. While agents questioned the 23-year-old U.S. citizen driver and his 25-year-old male passenger, a nearby K-9 alerted to the car. Searching the car, agents found 12 wrapped bundles of narcotics hidden inside tuna-fish boxes in the trunk. The bundles were filled with heroin, meth, and marijuana worth an estimated $116,018.
About one hour later, Brown Field agents manning the State Route 94 checkpoint near Jamul questioned the driver of a 2014 Kenworth commercial vehicle. The 44-year-old Mexican national driver stated that his flatbed trailer had16 mesh-wire containers filled with riverbed rock. A nearby K-9 alerted and agents found eight large boxes beneath the rock. The boxes contained 977.30 pounds of marijuana that is worth an estimated $586,380.
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The following morning at 7 a.m., agents at the Interstate 5 checkpoint near San Clemente questioned a 21-year-old male U.S. citizen. Driving a 2002 Ford Explorer, the man indicated he was traveling to Los Angeles. Agents referred him for a secondary inspection and three packages of heroin were found under the rear seat of the SUV. Agents also found a small amount of marijuana. The narcotics are worth an estimated $67,614.
The four men involved in the three incidents were arrested and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for federal prosecution. The vehicles were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.
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To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on 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.
-- Information provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
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