In a notable series of busts, Border Patrol agents in the San Diego Sector made significant drug seizures, continuing to work despite the recent federal government shutdown. Reports indicate that over a two-week stint, agents intercepted large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine worth hundreds of thousands of dollars on the street.
One significant haul occurred on Oct. 28 when agents, assisted by a canine unit, stopped a vehicle on Interstate 5. The dog quickly alerted to something possibly amiss, and the ensuing search of the car led agents to find 25 packages of meth with a weight of almost 198 pounds. According to a statement from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the drugs were estimated to be worth over $316,000. In the wake of this discovery, local authorities were handed the case for further action.
The following day, Border Patrol agents didn't hesitate to make another stop on the same interstate, leading to a sizeable meth seizure after their canine partner signaled an alert. This time, five packages weighed in at over 120 pounds, with an estimated street value of nearly $193,000. The Drug Enforcement Administration took over the case from there.
November 11 also saw the interception of a sizeable shipment of cocaine after another successful vehicle stop and canine alert on I-5. Upon searching the vehicle, agents uncovered 25 packages of the drug in the trunk, totaling nearly 72 pounds and valued at $617,500. "These recent enforcement actions illustrate the teamwork and tenacity of our Border Patrol agents and law enforcement partners," San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre shared in a recent release. The intercepted narcotics from this incident were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for prosecution, with both the driver and passenger of the vehicle being U.S. citizens.
