Border Patrol Agents Seize $1.4 Million in Drugs

By MIRNA ALFONSO (Patch Staff)

On Wednesday, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested two men, one north of the Interstate 5 checkpoint in San Clemente and the second one at the checkpoint. Together they had more than $1.3 million dollars’ worth of hard narcotics, officials said.

The first arrest occurred when agents on patrol observed a suspicious vehicle heading north and initiated a vehicle stop at Crown Valley Parkway at approximately 1:30 p.m.

The driver of the 2008 Toyota Camry was a 44-year-old U.S. citizen who indicated he was traveling to the San Fernando Valley area.

Agents requested and received permission to conduct a K-9 sniff of the sedan. The K-9 search resulted in a positive alert, said Border Patrol information officer Gerardo U. Gutierrez.

Agents searched the vehicle and found multiple bundles of narcotics hidden inside a false compartment, Gutierrez reported.

The packages contained 1.21 pounds of black tar heroin, 17.20 pounds of China White heroin, and 22.38 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, and have an estimated street value of $573,720, the officer said.

Hours later, a second arrest took place at the Interstate 5 checkpoint. The driver, a 25-year-old U.S. citizen, arrived at the checkpoint driving a 2001 Toyota Solara and was referred to secondary inspection, Gutierrez said.

At secondary, the driver consented to a K-9 sniff of the vehicle that resulted in a positive alert. Agents searched and discovered 69 packages of methamphetamine in the rear quarter panels of the vehicle. The methamphetamine weighed a total of 82.36 pounds and has an estimated street value of $823,600.

The narcotic bundles from both events have a total estimated street value of $1,397,320. The two men and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The vehicles were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

Last fiscal year, San Diego Sector seized more than 2,880 ounces of heroin and more than 1,790 pounds of methamphetamine, Gutierrez said.

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.

Photo Captions:

Photo #1: Pursuant to the first seizure, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a man driving a 2008 Toyota Camry with mixed hard narcotics.

Photo #2: Multiple bundles containing black tar heroin, china white heroin, and crystal methamphetamine were discovered hidden inside a false compartment of the vehicle.

Photo #3: The mixed narcotics weighed a total of 40.79 pounds and has an estimated street value of $573,720.

Photo #4: During the second event, agents discovered 69 packages of methamphetamine hidden inside the rocker panels of the vehicle.

Photo #5: A 2001 Toyota Solara was seized and the methamphetamine weighed a total of 82.36 pounds.

Photo #6: The methamphetamine has an estimated street value of $823,600.