C.B.P. News Release

Border Patrol Intercepts Nearly 25 Pounds of Cocaine

Lost, Late Night Shopper Arrested at Checkpoint

(Thursday, April 23, 2009)

San Clemente, Calif. — Yesterday evening, a Border Patrol vehicle stop on Interstate 5 at the San Clemente checkpoint resulted in the seizure of almost 25 pounds of cocaine, which was stashed inside a secret compartment of a vehicle.

Ten bricks of cocaine are removed from a hidden compartment under a vehicle's gear shift.

At about 11:15 p.m., agents at the checkpoint stopped a blue Chrysler PT Cruiser and questioned the driver, a 22-year-old male Mexican national. He told agents he wanted to go shopping at the malls in San Diego but became lost. Although he possessed a valid visa he did not have documents that allowed travel beyond 25 miles from the border. Agents sent him to secondary for further inspection.

Agents summoned a Border Patrol K9 team. The K9 alerted on the vehicle and led agents to find 10 tightly-wrapped bundles of cocaine hidden inside a secret compartment under the vehicle’s shifter. The total weight of the cocaine was 24.49 pounds, with an estimated local street value of $245,000.

The illicit narcotics and the suspected smuggler were turned over to a multi-agency, anti-drug task force.

The Border Patrol utilizes a multi-layered enforcement approach to prevent potential threats from entering the interior of the country, while identifying vulnerabilities on the immediate border.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release
San Diego Sector
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (619) 216-4182 Ext: 114 or
(619) 652-9966 Ext: 192 (Spanish)

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