Border Patrol agents stationed at the San Onofre checkpoint near San Clemente, California had a busy week with two major drug seizures. The first incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday when agents pulled over a sedan heading northbound on I-5.
Upon inspecting the vehicle, agents found plastic-wrapped packages inside green trash bags, which appeared to be consistent with narcotics packaging. Four cellophane-wrapped packages were removed from the vehicle, and they tested positive for heroin. The total weight of the heroin amounted to 11.79 pounds, valued at $64,000.
The vehicle, drugs, and driver were taken to a nearby Border Patrol station for further investigation. Subsequently, the car was seized and handed over to the San Diego Sheriff’s Office.
Just 12 hours later, another significant seizure took place when agents stopped a suspicious pickup truck. A Border Patrol K-9 was used to conduct a search of the vehicle, and it alerted agents to the truck’s battery compartment. Inside, more plastic-wrapped packages were found, containing fentanyl weighing five pounds. The driver of the truck was arrested, and the seized drugs and vehicle were confiscated.
The street value of the fentanyl was estimated to be around $39,000. San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel emphasized that Transnational Criminal Organizations are utilizing Interstate 5 as a crucial route to transport drugs from the border into the interior of the United States. She reiterated the commitment of Border Patrol agents to collaborate with local, state, and federal partners to safeguard communities and disrupt these criminal networks.
The seizures of heroin and fentanyl highlight the ongoing battle against drug trafficking across the border. It underscores the importance of vigilant monitoring and enforcement efforts by law enforcement agencies to curb the flow of illegal substances into the country. Such operations not only prevent harmful drugs from reaching the streets but also help dismantle criminal operations that pose a threat to public safety.
