San Diego—U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested seven individuals this weekend who were involved in three separate human and drug smuggling events in the east and north county of San Diego.
The first event occurred at about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, when a man in a 1999 Ford Mustang ignored agents’ request to stop at the Interstate 5 checkpoint near San Clemente. The 30-year-old Mexican citizen fled north and refused to yield to agents, who pursued the suspect vehicle with activated emergency lights and sirens. The suspect exited the freeway at Basilone Road, nearly colliding with a commercial vehicle. The man lost control of his vehicle, breaking through a fence, landing in a ditch, and then crashing into power pole cables. He fled the scene on foot. Backup agents arrived to assist with the search and located and arrested the man, who had hidden in thick brush. The suspect admitted he had prior arrests and had re-entered the U.S. illegally.
On Friday, agents responded to foot traffic near Campo, Calif., and observed two people running from the U.S. to Mexico. Agents searched the area and located a backpack and three duffle bags filled with marijuana. Agents continued their search and captured and arrested two other men and two women who were hiding in nearby brush. The four Mexican nationals were booked in San Diego area jails. The four are facing state charges for conspiracy, importing and transporting marijuana, and possession for sale. The narcotics weighed 130.62 pounds and had an estimated street value of $78,372.
The third incident occurred on Sunday, when agents stopped a suspicious vehicle on Interstate 5. The 23-year-old U.S. citizen driver and her 54-year-old Mexican national mother were questioned. The daughter admitted to agents that they were transporting drugs in the trunk of the 2011 Chevrolet Impala. Agents searched and found nine bundles of marijuana. The narcotics weighed 206.61 pounds and had an estimated street value of $123,966. The two women were arrested and turned over to agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and face Federal drug smuggling charges.
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.