Border patrol agents in San Diego hit a meth jackpot, intercepting a massive haul of the drug worth a cool $192,000 on the street, according to an official release. In a recent bust, during a routine stop on Interstate 8, a gray SUV was found to be carrying more than 128 pounds of methamphetamine, hidden neatly in the wheel well and undercarriage, after a trusty K-9 unit sniffed it out.
The takedown happened Friday night approximately at 9:30 p.m. when patrol agents near Campo pulled over the SUV heading west on I-8, near the Sunrise Highway exit, revealing the stash of narcotics following an alert from the canine unit. The driver and the vehicle were quickly taken into custody and handed over to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department for further investigation. According to a statement from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, tests confirmed the crystal-like substance wrapped in foil was indeed methamphetamine.
"This is another example of the great work from our agents who continue working the frontlines combating drug trafficking in our communities," said Chief Patrol Agent Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel, in the wake of the seizure, which is part of the broader Operation Apollo that includes federal, state, and local agencies working together to fight the influx of fentanyl and other dangerous synthetic narcotics.
Last fiscal year's statistics from the Border Patrol highlight a daunting battle against the drug trade, San Diego agents alone seized north of 1,800 pounds of methamphetamine, and they also bagged 2,100 pounds of cocaine, 111 pounds of heroin, and 1,285 pounds of fentanyl as drug trafficking operations keep trying to slip their poison across U.S. borders. The U.S. Border Patrol maintains strict surveillance on routes leading away from the borders to curb the flow of illegal activity and urges the public to report any suspicious dealings to the San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.
