Immigrant Not Allowed 25+ Miles North of Border Found in San Clemente Smuggling Drugs

From the U.S. Border Patrol:

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a 33-year-old man over the weekend who had heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine hidden in his vehicle.

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At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, a man in a 2007 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck arrived at the Interstate 5 checkpoint. When the driver was asked routine immigration questions, agents discovered that he lacked the credentials that allowed him to be more than 25 miles from the U.S./Mexico international border. Being in violation of his immigration status, he was referred to secondary inspection for further questioning.

In secondary, a K-9 sniff of the man’s truck resulted in an alert. Agents searched the truck and found anomalies near the transfer case. Opening the case, they discovered bundles of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.

The heroin weighed 4.94 pounds and has an estimated street value of $59,280. The cocaine weighed 2.60 pounds and has an estimated street value of $33,800. The meth weighed 4.89 pounds and has an estimated street value of $48,900.

Agents arrested the man and turned him over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from our Nation’s borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.

PHOTO Transfer case of a Toyota Tacoma truck had bundles of heroin, cocaine, and meth stuffed inside. Courtesy the U.S. Border Patrol.