By SDCN Editor
Pine Valley, CA–San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents seized more than 12 pounds of fentanyl after a vehicle stop on Interstate 8 on February 23.
Agents assigned to the Campo Border Patrol Station conducted a vehicle stop on a 2013 compact car that was heading westbound on Interstate 8. As agents spoke to the occupants of the vehicle, two adult male United States citizens, a K-9 team was requested. The responding K-9 unit conducted an air sniff of the vehicle, which yielded an alert to the potential presence of narcotics.
After thoroughly examining the vehicle they discovered numerous vacuum sealed packages containing blue M30 pills concealed within the rear quarter panels of the vehicle. Agents arrested both the driver and passenger and transported them to a nearby Border Patrol station for processing.
A subsequent test of the pills resulted in a positive for the properties and characteristics of fentanyl. The total weight of the narcotics was 12.2 pounds.
The driver and passenger, narcotics, and vehicle were turned over to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for further investigation.
“Protecting America is our mission, and keeping hard narcotics, such as fentanyl, away from our communities is our duty,” said Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel. “San Diego Sector Border Patrol and our law enforcement partners are committed to combating these Transnational Criminal Organizations that continue to smuggle illicit narcotics through our communities.”
This seizure is part of the recently announced Operation Apollo. Operation Apollo is a joint regional operation comprised of federal, state, and local agencies working to combat the threat from fentanyl and other illicit narcotics.
