BORDER PATROL AGENTS SEIZE SMUGGLED NARCOTICS LOADS VALUED AT OVER $680,000

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December 11, 2011 (San Diego) — U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to San Diego area checkpoints and highways have seized a total of $683,090 of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine since Monday. The busts included seizures in East County, with drugs found hidden in vehicles and in the soles of shoes.

 

Yesterday, agents assigned to patrol duties along Interstate 15 stopped a 28-year-old male United States citizen driving a maroon 2001 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck. A Border Patrol K-9 team performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle which resulted in a positive alert to the interior where agents subsequently discovered five bundles of methamphetamine hidden in a black trash bag behind the passenger seat. The total weight of the meth was 12.02 pounds and worth an estimated $240,400.

 

At 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, agents assigned to the Interstate 8 checkpoint near Pine Valley arrested a 23-year-old male Mexican national for attempting to smuggle 3.53 pounds of heroin worth $45,890 in the soles of two pairs of dress shoes. Agents encountered the individual while performing an immigration inspection of a commercial bus travelling to San Diego. During inspection, agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor and referred him for a secondary inspection. A Border Patrol K-9 team alerted to the man’s luggage, where agents discovered packages of heroin hidden inside of a pair of brown shoes. Agents also located similar packages inside of a pair of black shoes the man was wearing.

 

At 7:40 a.m. on Monday, agents assigned to the I-8 checkpoint arrested a 39-year-old male United States citizen for attempting to smuggle 39.68 pounds of cocaine. Agents encountered the man as he arrived at the checkpoint driving a white 1991 Chevrolet C2500 pickup truck. The vehicle was referred for a secondary inspection, where a Border Patrol K-9 team produced a positive alert to the gas tank. Agents searched and discovered 15 bundles of cocaine hidden inside of the tank with an estimated street value of $396,800. The suspected smugglers and narcotics from all three events were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The two pickup trucks were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

 

To prevent illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on major corridors of egress away from our nation’s borders.

 


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