A minor was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector for attempting to carry nearly 27 pounds of methamphetamine into the United States. Last Saturday evening, a surveillance team detected suspicious activity near the San Ysidro Port of Entry, a site infamous for its illicit crossings.
Agents zeroed in on a 16-year-old boy laden with two duffel bags. However, when confronted, the boy's claim of simply hiking did not hold up to scrutiny. The bags were missing, but a Border Patrol K-9 unit later uncovered the bags stashed close by. Inside, agents found water bottles wrapped in black electrical tape, within which was a substance consistent with methamphetamine. Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Stalnaker addressed the gravity of the situation, stating, "These criminal organizations have no reservations about using a minor to smuggle their poison and ruining a juvenile’s future is of little consequence to them," as quoted by the Customs and Border Protection news release.
The incident, which resulted in the seizure of drugs with an estimated street value of over $32,000, adds to a growing tally of narcotics interceptions by the Border Patrol. The minor and the narcotics were handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration, which is conducting further investigations into this attempt to breach the U.S./Mexico International Boundary with illegal substances.
This arrest comes as the San Diego Sector Border Patrol inches closer to setting a new record for methamphetamine busts, highlighting both the resourcefulness of drug trafficking organizations and the continuous vigilance of border security personnel. The DEA is now shouldering the responsibility of unraveling the network behind this meth shipment, as they took custody of the narcotics and the 16-year-old involved, according to the Customs and Border Protection.
