Over a two-week period in December, U.S. Border Patrol agents from the San Diego Sector seized more than 184 pounds of narcotics during several enforcement actions along Southern California’s interstate highways. The seizures included significant amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.
On December 4, agents from the San Clemente Station stopped a vehicle on Interstate 5 and found five packages of fentanyl weighing a total of 12.24 pounds. The driver was a lawful permanent resident. Both the individual and the narcotics were presented for prosecution, and the vehicle was seized.
That same day, agents from the Newton-Azrak Station in Murrieta stopped another vehicle on Interstate 15 North. They discovered 60 packages suspected to contain narcotics: two contained fentanyl totaling 4.74 pounds, while others held 19.18 pounds of cocaine and 51.27 pounds of methamphetamine. The driver, a Mexican citizen, was presented for prosecution along with the drugs; the vehicle was also seized.
On December 10, San Clemente Station agents found 43 packages inside a northbound vehicle on I-5. Nineteen packages tested positive for fentanyl (25.79 pounds), while the remaining contained heroin (31.19 pounds). The U.S.-citizen driver and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for prosecution; authorities seized the vehicle.
A day later on December 11, San Clemente agents uncovered ten packages of fentanyl weighing 23.48 pounds during another northbound I-5 stop. The U.S.-citizen driver and drugs were turned over to the San Diego Sheriff’s Office Border Crime Suppression Team with state charges pending; the vehicle was seized.
On December 16, agents again stopped a northbound I-5 vehicle and found seven packages of fentanyl under front seats totaling 16.75 pounds. The U.S.-citizen driver and drugs were turned over to DEA for prosecution; authorities seized that vehicle as well.
“The significant quantity of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics that our agents have seized in the past two weeks represents millions of lethal doses,” said San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre. “Whether it is shutting down human traffickers or preventing deadly drugs from entering our country, border security saves lives.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that its personnel maintain vigilance along key transportation corridors away from national borders to prevent smuggling activities involving humans, drugs, or contraband.
CBP is described as America’s largest law enforcement organization with more than 67,000 employees protecting land borders as well as air and sea approaches to enforce safe travel and trade.
For reporting suspicious activity related to smuggling or border crime in Southern California, individuals are encouraged to contact local authorities or reach out directly to Border Patrol at (619) 498-9900.
