Border Patrol agents discovered methamphetamine and heroin in the spare-tire well of this vehicle Saturday morning. Courtesy photo.
By Jim Shilander
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents at the Border Patrol checkpoint south of San Clemente on Interstate 5 arrested a man attempting to smuggle nearly $700,000 worth of methamphetamine and heroin Saturday morning.
Border patrol agents stopped a 23-year-old American man at approximately 7:45 a.m. after he’d been acting nervously. The man was referred for a second inspection, which led to a Border Patrol K-9 team inspection of the vehicle. When agents searched the vehicle more thoroughly, they discovered a single bundle of heroin and 29 bundles of methamphetamine hidden in the spare tire well. The 31.2 pounds of methamphetamine had an estimated street value of $624,000. The heroin, which weighed 3.9 pounds, has a value of about $54,600.
The alleged smuggler was taken into custody and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for investigation.
U.S. Border Patrol seized a number of bags of methamphetamine and heroin after discovering them in a car Saturday morning. Courtesy photo.
