Pine Valley, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 8 checkpoint near Pine Valley arrested a 19-year-old male U.S. citizen yesterday for attempting to smuggle more than 436 pounds of cocaine.
Agents encountered the man at approximately 3:20 p.m., as he arrived at the checkpoint driving a silver 1998 Ford Mustang. During inspection, agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor and referred him for a secondary inspection. A Border Patrol canine team performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert to the trunk.
Upon further inspection, agents discovered 62 bundles of cocaine in the trunk totaling 436.3 pounds with an estimated street value of $4,363,000.
The suspected smuggler and the illicit drugs were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Ford Mustang was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.
