By SDCN Staff
San Clemente, CA–The U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the San Diego Sector seized over 1,435 pounds of cocaine valued at $9.8 million during two vehicle inspections on October 25, just three minutes apart at the San Clemente Border Patrol checkpoint.
Agents referred both vehicles to secondary inspection after observing suspicious behavior, including one driver attempting to reverse out of the checkpoint.
A Border Patrol canine alerted officers to both vehicles, leading agents to discover 550 vacuum-sealed packages concealed in black garbage bags. A field test yielded a presumptive positive result for cocaine.
“With this seizure, we are heading for a record year in narcotics interdictions here at the San Clemente checkpoint,” said San Clemente Station Patrol Agent in Charge J.D. Scott. “A few years ago, our agents were deployed to the immediate border and processed hundreds of illegal aliens. With illegal border entries in San Diego at all-time lows, we now have the agents needed to keep our checkpoint open longer and to maintain a strong Border Patrol presence along our I-5 corridor.”
The agents arrested both drivers. The Drug Enforcement Administration took custody of the individuals and suspected narcotics pending federal prosecution.
