$1.4M Worth Of Cocaine Found Hidden During Temecula Traffic Stop

TEMECULA, CA — A drug bust near Temecula by U.S. Border Patrol agents led to the seizure of $1.4 million in cocaine, authorities reported Tuesday.

The investigation took place at approximately 11:30 a.m. Nov. 9 when border patrol agents with the federal agency's San Diego Sector pulled over a 2001 white Ford Edge that was heading north on Interstate 15, not far from the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint, just outside Temecula, the USBP reported.

During the stop, a border patrol K-9 alerted agents to possible drugs inside the SUV. Found hidden inside the vehicle's front floorboard were 41 packages of cocaine weighing a total of 103 pounds with an estimated street value of $1,401,000, according to the USBP.

The 33-year-old male driver, a Mexican citizen, was arrested.

"He now faces charges for narcotics trafficking," the USBP reported.

The cocaine was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations and the SUV was seized and sent to a USBP station, the agency said.