Thread: Border Patrol Nabs 10 Pounds of Coke @ San Clemente

Border Patrol Nabs 10 Pounds of Coke South of S.C.

Agency estimates a $100,000 street value to cocaine hidden in car doors and seats.

1:52pm

Editor's Note: The following is part of the text of a press release from the U.S. Border Patrol.

U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the I-5 checkpoint [south of] San Clemente arrested a 22-year-old male Mexican national for attempting to smuggle nearly 10 pounds of cocaine.

On April 19, 2011, agents encountered the man at approximately 5:55 p.m., as he arrived at the checkpoint driving a blue 1992 Acura Legend. During inspection, agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor and referred him for a secondary inspection. A Border Patrol K-9 team was summoned and performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert.

Upon further inspection, agents discovered eight bundles of cocaine concealed in the rear door panels of the vehicle totaling 9.92 pounds with an estimated street value of $99,200.

The suspected smuggler and the illicit drugs were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to a multi-agency drug task force. The Acura Legend was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

http://sanclemente.patch.com/articles/b ... outh-of-sc

Published: April 21, 2011
Updated: 2:28 p.m.

$175,000 in cocaine, pot seized on freeway

By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

SAN CLEMENTE – U.S. Border Patrol agents seized about $175,000 worth of cocaine and marijuana being transported on the I-5 freeway, authorities said.

On Wednesday, Border Patrol agents stopped a 2004 Dodge Intrepid headed north near the Tustin Ranch Road exit in Tustin, according to a statement from the agency.

U.S. Border Patrol agents found 38 bundles of marijuana hidden behind the rear seat of a 2004 Dodge Intrepid Wednesday.

While inspecting the car, agents discovered 38 bundles of marijuana hidden in a compartment behind the rear seat of the car.

The bundles weighed a total of 126.3 pounds and are believed to have a street value of $75,780, according to the statement.

A man and a woman who were in the car, both 18-year-old U.S. citizens, were taken into custody and held on drug-related charges, according to the agency.

On Tuesday, agents made another discovery when they stopped a blue 1992 Acura Legend just before 6 p.m. at the San Clemente checkpoint.

According to a statement from the agency, agents pointed the man toward a secondary inspection after observing that the man was nervous.

A K-9 team was alerted to the vehicle, and agents found eight bundles of cocaine hidden in the rear door panels of the car.

Nearly 10 pounds of cocaine were seized – more than $99,000 in street value.

The driver of the car, a Mexican national, was turned over to narcotics task force.

Both vehicles were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361

http://www.ocregister.com/news/agents-2 ... eized.html