San Clemente, Calif. — U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents arrested a man on Wednesday morning who was transporting 41 pounds of methamphetamine in his vehicle.
The event began at approximately 11:30 a.m. when agents observed a man driving erratically on Interstate 5 near San Clemente. As agents attempted to catch up to the man, he rapidly cut across traffic, exited at a nearby rest stop, and parked.
At the rest stop, agents questioned the driver; a 20-year-old U.S. citizen and received consent to search the 1998 red Ford Mustang. A service K-9 alerted to the vehicle and the driver admitted to agents that narcotics were the vehicle.
Agents arrested the man and transported him to a nearby Border Patrol station for processing. At the station, agents continued their search of the Mustang and located 30 suspicious packages in the trunk of the car. Testing confirmed that the packages contained methamphetamine.
The narcotics weighed 41.33 pounds and had an approximate street value of $41,330. The driver and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the man faces Federal prosecution. The vehicle was seized by USBP.
San Diego Sector’s Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke stated, “These drugs could have wreaked havoc on any American community. Thankfully, our agents prevented that from happening.”
For FY2021 year to date, San Diego Sector seized more than 625 pounds of cocaine, 479 pounds of methamphetamine, 62 pounds of heroin, and 252 pounds of fentanyl.
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.