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  4. Agents on I-5 Intercept Man with Coke & Heroin in Trunk

Agents on I-5 Intercept Man with Coke & Heroin in Trunk

Release Date
Wed, 08/02/2017

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—Border Patrol agents at the Interstate 5 checkpoint near San Clemente arrested a man last night who had bundles of cocaine and heroin stuffed inside his car’s spare-tire well.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., agents at the Border Patrol checkpoint referred a 19-year-old Mexican national man driving a 2005 Mazda 3 for secondary inspection.

Agents found 10 bundles hidden inside the car’s spare-tire well.
Agents found 10 bundles hidden
inside the car’s spare-tire well.

Once in secondary, agents conducted a cursory inspection of the vehicle and discovered 10 plastic-wrapped bundles in the car’s tire well.

Five of the bundles contained 11.57 pounds of cocaine. The other five bundles contained 12.68 pounds of heroin. The narcotics have a combined estimated street value of $327,930.

The driver was arrested for narcotics smuggling and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the narcotics. The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

Since October 1, 2016, Border Patrol agents in San Diego Sector have intercepted 2,371 pounds of cocaine and 270 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.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021