CHULA VISTA, Calif.—A 42-year-old man is behind bars after Border Patrol agents discovered him in possession of a variety of narcotics at a self-storage facility in Chula Vista on Tuesday evening.
At about 6:20 p.m., agents spotted the man driving a Mercury Sable sedan, which was being targeted for possible illicit cross-border smuggling. The agents followed the vehicle to a storage facility on Main Street and observed the man unload items from the car into a storage unit.
from a vehicle in storage.
Agents approached the man and initiated a casual conversation. During the encounter, the man consented to a K-9 search of the vehicle and storage unit, resulting in a positive alert. Agents conducted a search and discovered several bundles of narcotics stashed inside the storage unit and in the vehicle’s trunk, spare tire, and rear quarter panels.
The seizure netted 68 pounds of cocaine, 25.39 pounds of marijuana, 23.67 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, and 0.68 pounds of brown heroin. The total estimated street value of the narcotics is $1,114,445.
The narcotics and vehicle were seized by the Border Patrol. The suspected smuggler was booked into the San Diego County Jail and is facing State narcotics charges.
To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from our Nation’s borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.