October 8, 09

NEWS / Border Patrol Intercepts Cocaine Stash at I-5 Rest Area

San Clemente, Calif. — Thirty-six pounds of cocaine was seized by U.S. Border Patrol agents yesterday evening at a rest area on Interstate 5 in San Clemente.


At about 5 p.m., agents on patrol spotted a suspicious Ford Crown Victoria traveling northbound on the interstate. The agents followed the vehicle into the rest area and encountered the driver, a 22-year-old male Mexican national. During an interview, the agents discovered that the driver was traveling in the country illegally.

A Border Patrol K-9 team soon arrived to the scene conducted a cursory inspection. The inspection produced an alerted on the sedan. The agents then conducted a physical search of the vehicle and discovered 13 bundles of cocaine hidden inside the door panels.


The cocaine had a total weight of 36.08 pounds with an estimated street value of $360,000.


The suspected smuggler and illicit narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.


The U.S. Border Patrol maintains a defense-in-depth enforcement approach to prevent the smuggling of humans, drugs and other contraband into our country.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/10082009_4.xml