Border Patrol agents in southern California seized over $1.2 million in cocaine following a vehicle stop near an inland checkpoint.
Agents working near the Temcula Border Patrol checkpoint, located on Interstate 15 more than 70 miles from the Mexican border, pulled over a 2005 Honda Accord on Wednesday afternoon after becoming suspicious of the vehicle. A K-9 agent alerted to the presence of drugs during a cursory search of the vehicle’s exterior, according to information obtained from U.S. Customs and Border Protection by Breitbart Texas.
Following the alert from the Border Patrol K-9, agents searched inside the vehicle and found 30 bundles of cocaine. The drugs were found in a compartment built into the back seat.
The load of cocaine was weighed and determined to be 76.07 pounds. It has an estimated street value of $1,217,120 officials stated.
“This result illustrates how the U.S. Border Patrol aggressively targets illicit activity not only at the border, but also along major corridors of egress,” San Diego Border Patrol Sector Chief Richard Barlow said in the statement.
Following the discovery, the suspect, who was not identified but was described as a 50-year-old male, was arrested and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The drugs were also turned over to the DEA as evidence. The 2005 Honda was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.
Since the beginning of the current fiscal year in October 2015, agents have seized nearly 600 pounds of cocaine. This represents nearly $10 million worth of cash flow to the narcotics traffickers.
On Friday, the Laredo, Texas, Border Patrol office announced results of drug seizures in their sector. While the Laredo Sector has less vehicle traffic than the busy southern California route, the Texas agents seized 341.17 pounds during that same period. This represents an additional $5.5 million worth of cocaine taken out of circulation.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and is a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter@BobPriceBBTX.