SAN DIEGO—U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents seized cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine during three separate incidents on Wednesday.
of fentanyl hidden inside two fire extinguishers.
The first event occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. when agents on patrol stopped a suspicious SUV on northbound Interstate 15. The agents received permission from the male U.S. citizen driver to search the vehicle using their K-9, which resulted in an alert to two fire extinguishers in the rear storage compartment.
The agents opened the extinguishers and extracted small bundles of suspected fentanyl pills from each one. The bundles weighed 19.06 pounds and have an estimated street value of $281,125. The 54-year-old driver, 53-year-old female U.S. citizen passenger, and the narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division for Federal prosecution.
The second seizure also occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m., when agents conducting patrols on Interstate 5 stopped a gold-colored SUV. Receiving consent to search, the agent’s service K-9 quickly alerted to the vehicle. Searching further, agents discovered a bag inside the cabin of the vehicle with four suspicious bundles. The vehicle, occupants, and suspected narcotics were taken to a nearby Border Patrol station for processing. Testing the bundles, all four were identified as methamphetamine. The packages weighed 9.26 pounds and have an estimated street value of $16,668. The driver, a 22-year-old male U.S. citizen, a 23-year-old male U.S. citizen passenger, and the narcotics were turned over to Drug Enforcement Administration agents for Federal prosecution.
9.26 pounds of meth from a gold-colored SUV .
The third event occurred at approximately 2:45 p.m. when agents patrolling Interstate 15 conducted a vehicle stop on a man driving a blue pickup truck. After receiving consent to search the truck, a USBP K-9 alerted to the rear cargo area. Agents searched the compartment and removed three bundles from two bags. Testing the contents, two bundles tested positive for cocaine and one bundle tested positive for methamphetamine. The cocaine weighed 2.54 pounds and the methamphetamine weighed 3.75 pounds. Combined, the drugs are valued at $42,975. The driver, a 25-year-old male U.S. citizen, and narcotics were remitted to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles Field Division with state charges and prosecution pending.
The vehicles in all three incidents were seized by USBP.
“On a day that San Diego Sector agents encountered more than 700 people attempting to enter the U.S. illegally, the vigilance of our agents also prevented these highly addictive and dangerous drugs from entering American neighborhoods,” said Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke. “I am proud of their efforts.”
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.