Crime & Safety

Border Patrol Nabs $421,000 in Heroin, Pot

In two busts at checkpoints over the last five days, the U.S. Border Patrol seized more than 237 pounds of marijuana and more than 5 pounds of heroin.

U.S. Border Patrol agents seized of marijuana and heroin worth an estimated $421,860 over the past week in north San Diego county, including at the Interstate-5 checkpoint.

Agents stopped first alleged smuggler Thursday at 4 p.m. A 19-year-old male United States citizen came through the San Clemente checkpoint driving a tan 2001 Chevrolet Suburban, according to a Border Patrol release.

The man acted nervous, so agents brought in a drug dog, which indicated the presence of drugs in the Suburban.

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Agents searched the vehicle and discovered 47 bundles of marijuana behind the driver and passenger front seats and inside the trunk. The marijuana weighed 237.16 pounds and had an estimated street value of $355,740. 

Agents stopped the second smuggler at 10 a.m. Monday. He was a 21-year-old male United States citizen driving a gray 2001 Ford Escort at the Murrieta Checkpoint on I-15. 

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The driver appeared nervous and the Border Patrol brought in a drug dog which indicated the presence of drugs in the vehicle. Agents searched the Ford Escort and discovered five bundles of heroin inside a compartment disguised to resemble a valve cover.

The heroin weighed 5.51 pounds with an estimated street value of $66,120, according to the Border Patrol release.

The suspected smugglers and narcotics in both instances were taken into custody and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation. The vehicles were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol, the release states.


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