Border Patrol Makes $250,000 Dope Collar at Station South of San Clemente

Editor's note: The following is the text of a press release from the U.S. Border Patrol:

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a 32-year-old male Mexican national near San Clemente, Calif. on April 17, 2011, for smuggling more than 25 pounds of cocaine in a 2000 Dodge Dakota pickup truck.

At 5:45 p.m., agents on patrol near the I-5 Border Patrol checkpoint conducted a vehicle stop on a truck.  During the stop, agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor.  Agents determined the man was illegally present in the United States and arrested him.  

A Border Patrol K-9 team was summoned and performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle which resulted in a positive alert near the driver’s side door.

Agents searched the vehicle and discovered nine cellophane-wrapped bundles containing 25.35 pounds of cocaine concealed in a bag behind the driver’s seat with an estimated street value of $253,500.

The suspected drug smuggler and narcotics were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to a multi-agency drug task force.  The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

To prevent illicit smuggling of humans, drugs and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on major corridors of egress away from our nation’s borders.