Border Patrol Agents Seize Nearly $5M in Drugs in California

Border Patrol Agents stopped millions of dollars’ worth of drugs from Mexico to the streets of California last week.

Agents working in southern California stopped a suspicious vehicle on Sunday afternoon near San Clemente, California. A K-9 agent alerted to the presence of drugs leading the agents to search the vehicle, according to information obtained by Breitbart Texas from U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.

During the search, the agents found 24 bundles of methamphetamine, 42 bundles of cocaine, and 15 bundles of fentanyl hidden in the 2005 Ford Focus. The driver of the vehicle was also found to be in possession of marijuana for personal use.

The bundles contained 38.8 pounds of methamphetamine, 16.29 pounds of cocaine, and 52.69 pounds of fentanyl. Official estimated the value of the drugs to be $3,940,680.

Just the day before, Border Patrol agents stopped another vehicle near San Clemente. During that stop, agents found 47.73 pounds of meth hidden in the spare tire of the 2008 Dodge Caliber. The driver of the Caliber, a 21-year-old woman, was arrested. Her minor siblings, who were in the car at the time, were turned over to San Diego County Child Welfare Services.

Both suspects and the drugs they were allegedly smuggling were turned over to agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency. The vehicles were seized by the Border Patrol.

Border Patrol agents working in the El Centro Sector also seized major drug shipments over the weekend. The driver of a 2010 Ford Fusion approached the checkpoint on Highway 86. As the woman approached the checkpoint, a K-9 agent alerted to the scent of drugs. Border Patrol agents referred the woman, and her male companion, to a secondary inspection station. A search of the vehicle revealed 39 bundles of methamphetamine hidden in the rocker panels of the Fusion.

Agents weighed the meth at 42.9 pounds and placed an estimated value of $171,600 on the smuggling shipment.

The following day, agents pulled over a 2005 Honda Odyssey on Interstate 10. The Honda was being driven by a 31-year-old woman. While searching the vehicle, agents found a hidden compartment in the Odyssey, containing 35 bundles of meth. Agents stated the street value of this 55.68 pound shipment would be worth about $222,720.

“Our community is a safer place because of the great work these brave men and women carry out daily,” El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Rodney S. Scott said in a written statement on Monday.

Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.