$73K In Meth Found In Car's Gas Tank At I-8 Stop: Border Patrol

PINE VALLEY, CA — Border Patrol agents arrested a man at a freeway checkpoint in southeastern San Diego County after allegedly finding nearly $73,000 in methamphetamine stashed in his car's gas tank, authorities reported Wednesday.

The 29-year-old man, a U.S. citizen, drove a 2008 Nissan Altima to the westbound Interstate 8 checkpoint around 7:10 p.m. Tuesday in Pine Valley, according to the Border Patrol.

Agents at the checkpoint questioned the driver while a drug-sniffing dog alerted them to send the car to a secondary inspection area. During the secondary inspection, a K-9 alerted agents to the rear of the vehicle, where they found 32 plastic-wrapped bundles of crystal meth hidden inside the gas tank, Border Patrol officials said. The drugs weighed 38.4 pounds and were estimated to be worth $72,960.

Agents arrested the driver, seized the vehicle and turned the drugs over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Since Oct. 1, 2019, the Border Patrol's San Diego Sector has seized 561 pounds of meth worth more than $1 million, Border Patrol officials said.