On August 30, U.S. Border Patrol agents in the San Diego Sector arrested a 16-year-old boy who was allegedly attempting to smuggle nearly 27 pounds of methamphetamine into the United States. The incident occurred around 10:40 p.m., when surveillance camera operators spotted a person carrying two dark duffle bags in a remote area about one mile east of the San Ysidro Port of Entry and just north of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Agents approached the area and encountered the minor, who claimed to be hiking but did not have the duffle bags in his possession. A K-9 unit was brought to assist, and officers soon found two duffle bags nearby. Inside, they discovered water bottles wrapped in black electrical tape, filled with a crystalline substance similar to materials seen in previous drug seizures.
“These criminal organizations have no reservations about using a minor to smuggle their poison and ruining a juvenile’s future is of little consequence to them,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Stalnaker. “No matter what these criminals try, I know our agents will be there to thwart their plans.”
After further inspection at a Border Patrol station, tests confirmed that the bottles contained methamphetamine. Authorities recovered 26.89 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value exceeding $32,000.
Both the narcotics and the teenager were handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for continued investigation.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection describes itself as America's frontline law enforcement organization and notes its role as “the world’s first unified border management agency.” CBP states it employs more than 65,000 people working on land, air, and sea operations across the country.
