$600K In Drugs Found In Temecula Area Border Patrol Stop: CBP

TEMECULA, CA — Two men were caught hauling more than $600,000 worth of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin into the Temecula Valley area this week by local border patrol agents, the agency announced Thursday.

U.S. Border Patrol agents spotted a "suspicious" white SUV driving on Interstate 15 near the border checkpoint around 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Spokeswoman Mary Beth Caston. The agents pulled the motorist over at the checkpoint.

"The 36-year-old driver and his 41-year-old passenger were both Mexican nationals," Caston said. "After their K-9 alerted to the vehicle, agents searched and located 114 bundles of narcotics stashed inside the rear cargo area."

In all, agents found 114.64 pounds of methamphetamine valued at $229,928; 27.67 pounds of cocaine valued at $276,700; and almost 11 pounds of black tar heroin valued at $113,850, Caston said.

"The two men were taken into custody and turned over to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and face narcotic smuggling charges," she said. "The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol."

Their names were not released.