By Gina Yarbrough
San Diego, CA–U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than 20 pounds of fentanyl and three pounds of heroin concealed in a vehicle at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on March 10, authorities said.
Officers referred a 26-year-old Mexican national driving a 2017 Nissan Sentra to a secondary inspection area after he applied for entry into the United States, authorities said.
During the inspection, a nonintrusive imaging system revealed anomalies in the vehicle’s doors, and a CBP canine team alerted officers to the presence of narcotics. Officers discovered 10 packages concealed within the doors containing approximately 20.6 pounds of fentanyl powder, enough to kill nearly 7 million Americans, and 3.1 pounds of heroin worth nearly $310,000, Customs and Border Protection stated in a release.
“This significant seizure showcases the dedication of our officers and their effectiveness in stopping dangerous drugs from reaching our communities,” said San Diego Director of Field Operations Sidney Aki. “By combining their keen observational skills with advanced technology and highly trained canine teams, our officers successfully prevented these narcotics from causing harm.”
CBP officers seized the narcotics, the vehicle, a GPS tracker, and a cellphone. The driver faces federal prosecution for narcotics importation and smuggling.
