San Diego — U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a 65-year-old male Mexican national in east San Diego County yesterday morning attempting to smuggle more than 41 pounds of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine.
Agents stopped a suspicious 1998 Ford Windstar minivan on Interstate 8 near the Japatul Valley Road exit around 9:30 a.m. Agents conducted an immigration inspection of the driver, and became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor.
A Border Patrol K-9 Team performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert to the dashboard area.
Agents performed a search of the vehicle and discovered a non-factory compartment located behind the glove box. Agents opened the compartment and found numerous cellophane-wrapped bundles containing crystal methamphetamine and cocaine.
The man was arrested and transported with the minivan to a nearby Border Patrol station, where agents removed ten bundles of cocaine and ten bundles of crystal methamphetamine from the hidden compartment. The cocaine weighed 26.15 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $261,000 and the crystal methamphetamine weighed 15.43 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $277,000.
The suspected drug smuggler and narcotics were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
To prevent illicit smuggling of humans, drugs and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on major corridors of egress away from our nation’s borders.
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 the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
