U.S. Border Patrol seizes $3.5 million drug load near San Diego

Interior Border Patrol Agents did it again; they snagged $3.5 million in cocaine and marijuana behind a false wall located in a tractor trailer headed to San Diego.

U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to an Interstate 8 checkpoint just east of San Diego arrested a 25-year-old male, U.S. citizen, for smuggling more than 315 pounds of cocaine and 570 pounds of marijuana.

“Agents encountered the man, a resident of Los Angeles, on Friday, at about 11:15 p.m., as he arrived at the checkpoint driving a 1998 Freightliner truck with a trailer. A Border Patrol K-9 team performed a cursory inspection of the truck which resulted in a positive alert to the trailer and the driver was then referred for a secondary inspection,” according to Border Patrol Agent Michael Jimenez.

It was during secondary inspection when agents searched the front of the trailer and discovered a false wall made of metal and plywood. Agents discovered the drugs behind the plywood.
Advertisement

The drugs were wrapped in cellophane. The agents collected 115 bundles of cocaine with a total weight of 315.59 pounds and an estimated street value of $3,156,000. “Agents also discovered eight metal boxes containing 570.22 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of $342, 000,” Jimenez said.

The suspected drug smuggler was taken into custody and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for further investigation. The Freightliner truck and trailer used by the suspected smuggler were seized by Border Patrol.

Since October 1, 2010, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents have seized more than 62,000 pounds of marijuana and 1,270 pounds of cocaine.

For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/kimberly-dvorak

© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

Continue reading on Examiner.com U.S. Border Patrol seizes $3.5 million drug load near San Diego - San Diego County Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/u-s-border-patrol-seizes-3-5-million-drug-load-near-san-diego#ixzz1OYYhTc7S