U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Chief Jason Owens recently disclosed that a violent criminal was apprehended in San Diego, California, with the assistance of a canine unit. In 2023, CBP announced Operation Apollo - a joint regional operation made up of federal, state, and local agencies operating to stop the flow of fentanyl and other illicit synthetic narcotics into the U.S.
"2/7: USBP BORTAC agents in San Diego, CA used a service canine to assist the U.S. Marshals & San Diego County Sheriff's Department with locating and arresting another violent criminal. We will always be there for our law enforcement partners", said Jason Owens, according to X.
This announcement follows closely on the heels of an incident in November when the San Diego Sector Border Patrol seized over $281,940 worth of methamphetamine during a vehicle stop on an Interstate, as per a news release by CBP.
According to the same release, agents halted a blue truck near the Buckman Springs exit on the interstate. During their interaction with the driver, they noticed four large bags in the vehicle's bed. A Border Patrol K-9 team was summoned and alerted agents to narcotics' presence. The duffle bags under scrutiny contained 188 pounds of methamphetamine packaged in clear bundles.
The CBP news release further states that both the motorist and drugs were handed over to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office for additional investigation and processing. The vehicle was seized by Border Patrol. This seizure is part of Operation Apollo, which recently announced its results for fiscal year 2023: 1,800 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,100 pounds of cocaine, 111 pounds of heroin and 1,285 pounds of fentanyl confiscated in the San Diego area.
