TEMECULA, Calif.—U.S. Border Patrol agents from the San Diego Sector made a significant drug bust on Tuesday morning, seizing over 80 pounds of cocaine concealed within a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) during a traffic stop on Interstate 15 in Temecula.
The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. when agents from the Newton-Azrak Border Patrol Station stopped the SUV for inspection. A Border Patrol canine team conducted an air sniff of the vehicle, leading to an alert indicating the presence of narcotics. A preliminary search revealed several cellophane-wrapped packages, consistent with narcotics smuggling, hidden within the vehicle. The occupants were promptly arrested and taken to the nearby station for further investigation.
At the Newton-Azrak Border Patrol Station, agents conducted a more thorough search, uncovering 31 bundles of cocaine hidden in a non-factory compartment behind the dashboard. The total weight of the narcotics was confirmed to be 81 pounds.
The Riverside County Southwest Investigations Bureau (SIB) was notified and took custody of the driver, passenger, and the seized narcotics for prosecution under state charges. The U.S. Border Patrol seized the vehicle involved in the smuggling attempt.
Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel praised the efforts of the Border Patrol agents involved, stating, “I am proud to say that men and women of the United States Border Patrol are out there day and night protecting our communities. With each successful narcotic interdiction, I know for a fact that we’ve saved someone’s life.”
This seizure is part of Operation Apollo, a collaborative effort involving federal, state, and local agencies to combat the growing threat of fentanyl and other illicit narcotics. Operation Apollo has been instrumental in increasing drug interdictions across the region.
So far this fiscal year, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents have seized 2,437 pounds of cocaine, marking a 300-pound increase over the previous year. The sector has also confiscated 3,627 pounds of methamphetamine, 31 pounds of heroin, and 475 pounds of fentanyl, underscoring the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the region.–News Desk