Border Patrol seizes $185,200 in Meth at San Clemente Checkpoint

Border Patrol agents seized $185,200 worth of meth in San Clemente, part of more than $1.1 million worth of drugs in the San Diego County/Orange County area this week, authorities say.

Officials discovered the meth while searching three vehicles near the San Clemente checkpoint on the I-5 freeway, seizing a total of 9.26 pounds worth of narcotic.

At about noon Tuesday, agents saw two 20-year-old male U.S. citizens parked near the checkpoint, according to a release from the Border Patrol

One driver was in a gold 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer and the second driver was in a green 1997 Honda Civic. Agents thought the two men looked nervous and asked them for permission to search the vehicles.

After gaining permission, agents found a fire extinguisher filled with methamphetamine in the trunk of each car. The methamphetamine taken from both vehicles weighed 6.17 pounds and had an estimated street value of $123,400.

On Monday, June 4, shortly after 1 p.m., agents at the checkpoint stopped a 51-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a silver 2005 Dodge Magnum. 

When agents searched the vehicle, they discovered two bundles of methamphetamine under the rear seat. 

The methamphetamine weighed 3.09 pounds and had an estimated street value of $61,800.

Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. along I-15. agents stopped a 26-year-old male Mexican national driving a black 2006 Dodge Charger. 

Agents said they thought the driver looked nervous and asked for permission to search the vehicle. 

Inside the trunk, officers found four car batteries containing 16 bundles of methamphetamine. The drug weighed 49.93 pounds and had an estimated street value of $998,600.

The suspected smugglers and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The vehicles were seized by the Border Patrol.