U.S. Border Patrol agents seize hard narcotics from a vehicle during a traffic stop in Vista. Photo: U.S. Border Patrol

VISTA–U.S. Border Patrol agents in North County arrested a man Thursday who had 54 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and 49 pounds of cocaine inside his vehicle.

The incident occurred on Oct. 8,  at approximately 10:45 a.m., when agents patrolling Interstate 15 conducted a vehicle stop on a suspicious 2015 Chevy Camaro near Vista.  While questioning the 24-year-old driver, an agency K-9 alerted to the Camaro.

Searching the vehicle, agents located 68 bundles of cocaine and crystal meth hidden inside the vehicle’s quarter panels and cowling.  The 50 bundles of crystal meth weighed 54.90 pounds and the 18 bundles of coke weighed 49.60 pounds. Combined, they have an estimated street value of $758,475.

The U.S. citizen driver and the narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation. The U.S. Border Patrol seized the vehicle.

Since October 1, 2019, San Diego Sector has seized more than 491 pounds of cocaine and 7,169 pounds of methamphetamine, 178 pounds of heroin, and 383 pounds of fentanyl.