Crime & Safety
Border Patrol Agents Bust Suspected Heroin Smuggler
Two bundles of the narcotic -- with a street value of $57,000 -- are found inside the rear panel of car at the San Clemente checkpoint.
A suspected heroin smuggler was caught at the San Clemente checkpoint Monday, the U.S. Border Patrol announced today.
At about 10:30 a.m. Monday, agents at the checkpoint referred a 26-year-old Mexican national in a 2004 Nissan Quest for a secondary inspection, according to a Border Patrol press release. A K-9 team was summoned, which alerted to the vehicle.
Agents searched and discovered two bundles of heroin hidden inside the right rear-quarter panel, according to the release. The narcotics weighed more than four pounds and had an estimated street value of $56,980.
Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The man, who was not identified, was arrested for possessing a controlled substance. The man, vehicle and drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the press release states.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
