$1.1M in Meth Seized by Border Patrol. San Clemente

$1.1M in Meth Seized by Border Patrol

Aug 22, 2011

U.S. Border Patrol agents thwarted two narcotics smuggling attempts Thursday, one in Pine Valley and the other in San Clemente, resulting in the combined seizure of more than $1.1 million of methamphetamine in one day.

The first seizure of $470,000 was discovered Thursday at around 11:30 a.m. at the Interstate-8 checkpoint in east San Diego County. Agents discovered 30 bundles of methamphetamine totaling 23.5 pounds of the illicit narcotic in a non-factory compartment inside a vehicle’s rear bumper. A 38-year-old American woman was arrested in the bust.

At approximately 4:05 p.m. Thursday, agents encountered two 19-year-old men, who are United States citizens, at the Interstate-5 checkpoint in San Clemente driving a silver 2003 Toyota Corolla. During inspection, agents became suspicious of the pair’s inconsistent answers to their questions and referred them for a secondary inspection.

A Border Patrol K-9 team performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert to the driver’s side doors. Agents searched the vehicle and discovered a hidden compartment inside a speaker box located in the trunk.

Inside the compartment, agents found 24 bundles of methamphetamine with a total weight of 30.98 pounds and an estimated street value of $619,600. The suspected smugglers and drugs were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

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