U.S. Border Patrol agents from the San Diego Sector achieved a significant drug bust, confiscating 51 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a vehicle's spare tire east of San Diego, the operation happening on the night of April 18. The interception occurred at the California State Route 94 checkpoint, where a red Toyota pickup truck was inspected following a K-9 unit's alert to potential hidden contraband, as reported in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection press release.
The initial search of the pickup did not immediately reveal the narcotics, but it was an X-ray scan of the vehicle's spare tire area that brought agents closer to discovering the drugs. The handheld X-ray scanner subsequently confirmed anomalies within the spare tire itself. Inside, agents found and removed 48 packages of substance that, after being tested, was confirmed to be methamphetamine, the street value estimated by authorities to be around $175,000; this latest seizure is a part of a larger issue, the San Diego Sector alone has seized 826 pounds of methamphetamine this fiscal year as well as significant amounts of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin.
The driver caught in this instance was consequently arrested and is facing charges related to possession of a controlled substance for sale, with the Drug Enforcement Administration now taking over the case.
