Nearly 130 Pounds Of Fentanyl Found In Flatbed Trailer In San Diego County

PINE VALLEY, CA — Border Patrol agents seized nearly 130 pounds of fentanyl that was concealed in a flatbed trailer in Pine Valley, marking one of the San Diego Sector's largest fentanyl seizures to date, officials announced Thursday.

The seizure happened on June 27, when a pickup truck hauling an empty flatbed trailer was sent to secondary inspection at the Interstate 8 checkpoint, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

After a Border Patrol K-9 alerted agents to suspected narcotics, authorities searched the vehicle and found packages hidden in the trailer's frame, according to the agency. A total of 42 bundles were removed from aftermarket compartments.

The suspected drugs were weighed and tested at the Campo Station. The fentanyl pills weighed 128.7 pounds and had an estimated street value of $758,000, officials said.

"This seizure demonstrates the Border Patrol's role in protecting American communities," said Jeffrey D. Stalnaker, acting chief patrol agent of the San Diego Sector. "Fentanyl is lethal in even tiny amounts, and intercepting such a large quantity saved countless lives across the country.”

The driver, identified as a Mexican citizen, was placed under arrest, officials said. The San Diego County District Attorney's Office accepted a possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute case of prosecution.

Prior to June's seizure, the San Diego Sector had seized 326 pounds of fentanyl this year, along with 2,396 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,586 pounds of cocaine and 56 pounds of heroin.