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  4. Border Patrol Agents Apprehend Two Men with Meth at I-5 Checkpoint

Border Patrol Agents Apprehend Two Men with Meth at I-5 Checkpoint

Release Date
Wed, 02/26/2014

San Clemente, Calif.—U.S. Border Patrol agents intercepted a meth smuggling attempt at the Interstate 5 checkpoint yesterday.

At approximately 6 p.m., agents at the checkpoint encountered a 32-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a 2003 Ford F-150. The man’s 32-year-old Mexican national passenger was unable to provide a visa to verify that he was legally present in the U.S. The two men were referred for a secondary inspection.

In secondary, agents questioned the men further and the passenger admitted to being illegally present in the U.S. A K-9 performed a sniff of the vehicle, resulting in a positive alert. California National Guard members, operating a non-intrusive X-ray detection system, discovered anomalies within the vehicle. Agents searched the vehicle and located a tool bag filled with bundles of methamphetamine underneath the truck bed cover. Agents also located additional bundles of methamphetamine hidden within natural voids of the vehicle.

The driver and his passenger were arrested and the drugs were confiscated. The bundles weighed 12.24 pounds and had an estimated street value of $122,400.

The two men, the narcotics, and vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.

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