SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a man late Wednesday afternoon who had more than eight pounds of heroin hidden inside his vehicle's car battery case.
At approximately 4:30 p.m., a 26-year-old male Mexican national arrived at the I-5 checkpoint driving a 1995 blue Saturn. The man was referred to secondary inspection, where a K-9 sniff of the Saturn resulted in an alert. When agents searched the vehicle, they observed an oversized battery under the hood. They opened the battery case and found a motorcycle battery next to three vacuum-sealed bricks of heroin.
Following a K-9 alert, agents searched the car and found a motorcycle battery and 8-pounds of heroin inside the battery case.
The heroin weighed approximately 8.93 pounds and has an estimated street value of $107,160.
Agents arrested the man and turned him over to agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.
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.