Border Patrol Seizes more than $2.25 Million in Narcotics

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — U.S. Border Patrol agents of San Diego Sector arrested a woman with more than 140 pounds of narcotics hidden inside her car last week.

On January 24, at approximately 5:50 p.m., Border Patrol agents assigned to the San Clemente Station were conducting highway interdiction duties on Interstate 5 when they conducted a vehicle stop on a gray 2016 Nissan Versa.

The driver consented to a search of the vehicle by a Border Patrol K-9 team.

The Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the vehicle.  Agents conducted a search of the interior compartments and discovered multiple packages of suspected narcotics concealed under the floorboard.

Agents removed a total of 57 packages of suspected narcotics.  The substances in the packages tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin.  There were 34 packages of cocaine weighing approximately 87 pounds, 19 packages of fentanyl weighing approximately 44 pounds, and four packages of heroin weighing approximately nine pounds.  The narcotics have a street value of more than $2,250,000.

Chief Patrol Agent Rodney Scott commended the agents on their historic drug seizure, indicating, “The fentanyl seizure in itself was the largest in San Diego to date.  This preceded the Nogales Port of Entry’s 254 pound fentanyl seizure yesterday, the largest in CBP history.  These two seizures alone had the potential to kill millions of Americans.”

The driver, a 23-year-old Mexican citizen, was arrested.  The narcotics and subject were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The vehicle was seized by the Border Patrol.

Since October 1, 2019, San Diego Sector agents have seized over 300 pounds of cocaine, 79 pounds of fentanyl, and 975 ounces of heroin.