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Border Patrol Intercepts Man with $400K in Narcotics

Release Date
Mon, 04/15/2019

TEMECULA, Calif.—U.S. Border Patrol agents patrolling Interstate 15 arrested a man on Sunday who had $400,700 worth of narcotics hidden inside his vehicle.

Following a K-9 alert, agents discovered 14 bundles of cocaine and two bundles of heroin hidden in the rear of the vehicle.
Following a K-9 alert, agents
discovered 14 bundles of cocaine
and two bundles of heroin hidden
in the rear of the vehicle.

At approximately 11:15 a.m., Border Patrol agents assigned to the Newton-Azrak Station in Murrieta observed a 2003 Ford Expedition on Interstate 15 near Temecula.  Swerving in and out of the I-15 lanes, the SUV’s male driver eventually exited at Temecula Parkway onto State Route 79, then turned onto Pechanga Parkway.  Agents initiated a vehicle stop to question the driver.

During the encounter, a Border Patrol K-9 conducted a sniff of the vehicle and produced a positive alert.  Conducting a hand search, agents soon discovered six bundles of cocaine hidden behind the driver’s side rear-quarter panel.  A further search at the station revealed eight additional bundles of cocaine and two bundles of black tar heroin.

The 14 bundles of cocaine weighed 33.40 pounds and have an estimated street value of $334,000.  The two bundles of black tar heroin weighed 6.39 pounds and have an estimated street value of $66,700.

The driver, a 39-year-old U.S. citizen, was placed under arrest for the possession of narcotics and booked into a Riverside County detention center.  The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

Since October 1, 2018, San Diego Sector agents have seized 865 pounds of cocaine and 165 pounds of heroin.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021