Drugs Found in Gas Tank at I-5 Checkpoint

The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Border Patrol in San Diego:

U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 5 and Interstate 8 checkpoints intercepted two narcotics smuggling attempts Wednesday, resulting in the seizure of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy and more than $35,000.

At about 12 p.m., agents stopped a 22-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a white 2011 Toyota Corolla at the I-5 checkpoint.  During inspection, agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor and referred him for a secondary inspection. A Border Patrol K-9 performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in an alert.  Agents searched the vehicle and discovered a package containing 1,963 ecstasy pills on the back seat and bundles of cash in multiple locations.  The ecstasy had an estimated street value of $35,334 and the cash totaled $35,210.  The driver and his male passenger, a lawfully admitted permanent resident alien from Cambodia, were taken into custody.

Another smuggling attempt occurred at approximately 3 p.m., when agents assigned to the I-8 checkpoint encountered a 34-year-old female Mexican national driving a white 2002 Ford Escape.  A Border Patrol K-9 performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in an alert. Agents searched the vehicle and discovered 22 bundles inside the gas tank.  The bundles contained 26.32 pounds of cocaine, 13.71 pounds of methamphetamine and 12.61 pounds of heroin.  The narcotics had a total estimated street value of $701,330.

The suspected smugglers, narcotics and currency from both incidents were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The vehicles used in the smuggling attempts were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.