REGION: Border Patrol seizes drugs at checkpoint

North County Times | Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2012 9:30 am |

SAN DIEGO - U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 8 checkpoint near Pine Valley, prevented a narcotics smuggling attempt Wednesday resulting in the seizure of 53.02 pounds of cocaine and 10.14 pounds of methamphetamine worth an estimated $733,000.

A 22-year-old male United States citizen driver of a gold 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada, and his 23-year-old female United States citizen passenger, arrived to the checkpoint at 4:50 p.m. During inspection, agents became suspicious of the occupants' nervous demeanor and referred them for a secondary inspection, according to a Border Patrol press release.

A Border Patrol K-9 team performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert. The press release states agents searched the vehicle and discovered a non-factory compartment in the gas tank which contained 21 bundles of cocaine worth an estimated $530,200, and seven bundles of methamphetamine worth an estimated $202,800. The two suspected smugglers and illicit narcotics were taken into custody and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

REGION: Border Patrol seizes drugs at checkpoint