Border Patrol takes $1.2 million in illicit drugs off the streets

In separate drug smuggling incidents, Border Patrol agents working at the Interstate 8 and 5 checkpoints thwarted a pair of marijuana and cocaine smuggling attempts. The agents confirmed the seizure of cocaine and marijuana had an estimated street value of $1,196,445.

Yesterday, Border Patrol agents encountered a female 59-year-old U.S. citizen driving a BMW passing through the I-8 checkpoint just east of San Diego. The woman’s anxious and jumpy behavior concerned agents and they referred her to the checkpoint’s secondary inspection zone.

“A Border Patrol K-9 team performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert,” according to Scott Simon, of the San Diego Border Patrol. “Agents searched the vehicle and discovered 40 bundles of cocaine in a non-factory compartment under the front floorboard. The cocaine weighed 117.55 pounds and had an estimated street value of $1,175,500.”

A second incident unfolded at the I-5 checkpoint north of San Diego near Camp Pendleton Marine base. A 22-year-old male Mexican national arrived at the checkpoint shortly after noon driving a Ford Windstar. After the Border Patrol K-9 team inspected the minivan, agents were alerted to a concealed compartment that stored 11 bundles of marijuana.

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Border Patrol agents searched the minivan, “and discovered six bundles of marijuana in the passenger-side, rear-quarter panel and five bundles in the spare tire located under the vehicle. The marijuana weighed a total of 41.89 pounds and had an estimated street value of $20,945.”

The U.S. Border Patrol seized both vehicles used in the narcotic smuggling incidents. The suspected smugglers, and their narcotics in both incidents were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for further investigation,” according to a CBP statement.

To report suspicious activity call the San Diego Border Patrol at (619) 498-9900.

© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/kimberly-dvorak


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