4 smuggling attempts leads to drug seizures, 9 undocumented immigrants arrested
In the past week, Border Patrol agents and Homeland Security stopped four smuggling attempts which led to the arrest of nine undocumented immigrants and seizures of drugs valuing over $329,000.
According to Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ), the first drug seizure was last Wednesday by Border Patrol agents off Interstate 5, at around 3:35 p.m. A 28-year-old U.S. citizen driving a 2012 Ford truck was stopped south of a San Clemente checkpoint.
A K-9 alerted agents to the vehicle and led agents to find several packages wrapped in cellophane in the truck’s toolbox. Sixty-six pounds of meth were discovered and are estimated to be worth $153,870. Both the man and narcotics were turned over to the DEA for further investigation.
The second drug seizure happened last Thursday at 8:20 a.m. on Interstate 15 near Fallbrook , Calif. A man driving a 2012 Nissan Sentra was stopped by Border Patrol agents.
A K-9 alerted agents to the vehicle and after an inspection, 21 cellophane covered packages were found hidden in the truck. The packages contained 14 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of $33,810 were seized. Both the man and narcotics were turned into the DEA.
Later that same day at about 1:30 p.m. agents met a 31-year-old man, of Mexico, driving a 2008 Kia Soul on Interstate 5 near San Clemente, Calif. A K-9 alerted to a spare tire in the vehicle which led agents to find 32 cellophane packages inside of it.
One package contained $28,750 worth of heroin and another package contained $112,700 worth of methamphetamine. The man and drugs were turned into Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
The fourth event occurred on Sunday at approximately 12:30 a.m. when a boat was observed by CBP and Air and Marine Operations ( AMO ) crossing the international boundary without lights on. AMO Marine Unit approached the boat and boarded it at approximately 2:50 a.m.
Nine adult male passengers were interviewed, and they told the agents they were attempting to enter the U.S. illegally. Two of the men in the group are suspected of being the human smugglers and both face criminal charges.
All nine were detained and turned over to CBP .
