USBP Discovers More Than 88 Lbs. of Heroin and Meth in 24 Hours

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the San Clemente and Newton-Azrak (Murrieta) stations arrested three men in two separate drug smuggling schemes within a 24 hour period. 

The first incident occurred on June 24 at approximately 5:50 p.m. when a man driving a white BMW SUV was stopped by agents on northbound Interstate 5 near Highway 76.

A K-9 sniff was conducted during questioning, which resulted in a positive alert.  Looking under the hood, agents found 3 plastic-wrapped packages inside the BMW’s intake manifold.  The packages contained methamphetamine and heroin.

The heroin weighed 7.30 pounds and has an estimated street value of $79,200.  The meth weighed 12.13 pounds and has an estimated street value of $27,292.

The driver of the BMW, a 24-year-old permanent U.S. resident, was arrested and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation along with the narcotics.  The vehicle was seized by USBP.

The second incident occurred June 25 at approximately 8:20 a.m. when Border Patrol agents assigned to the Newton-Azrak station stopped a man driving a black Honda Pilot on Interstate 15 just south of Highway 79.  A male passenger was also in the vehicle. 

A K-9 sniff was conducted during questioning which resulted in a positive alert.  Upon further inspection of the vehicle, agents discovered 63 vacuum sealed packages inside the vehicle’s gas tank. 

The contents of the packages were tested and proved positive for meth and heroin.  The meth weighed 65.26 pounds with an estimated street value of $146,835 while the heroin weighed 2.97 pounds with an estimated street value of $32,400.

The two men in the vehicle, both U.S. citizens, were turned over to the Riverside office of the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the narcotics for further investigation.  USBP seized the Honda Pilot.

During this fiscal year, which began October 1, 2019, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents have seized more than 2,522 pounds of meth and more than 130 pounds of heroin.

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.