Border Patrol officers discovered illegal narcotics hidden in a vehicle trying to enter the country at the San Diego border.
Federal customs agents arrested a Mexican national living legally in the United States after discovering a record-breaking 290 pounds of heroin worth over $13 million hidden in a car at the San Diego border, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Nov. 5.
Authorities said the illegal narcotics were discovered in several hiding places inside a car allegedly driven by the suspect, who was not named. The suspect was trying to re-enter the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, officials reported.
The CBP officers reported the individual drove a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado into the primary vehicle lane at about 5:05 p.m. on Oct. 22 at the port of entry.
A K-9 officer conducted an initial search of the vehicle with a dog trained to detect narcotics. The dog alerted officers to possible drugs inside the vehicle’s spare tire area, according to federal agents.
Officers escorted the driver to an inspection booth, where he presented his lawful permanent resident card and two customs declarations that said he wasn’t carrying anything into the country.
The driver also told officers he was traveling to Santa Ana, California.
“The inspection confirmed anomalies in the spare tire well, rear seat, front right fender flare, and firewall of the vehicle,” the CBP said.
Officers removed 72 packages containing heroin in various hidden compartments, including the air filter, fender, glove box, rear seats, and the spare tire, officials said.
“A narcotics test kit confirmed the contents of the packages as heroin,” CBP reported.
According to Sidney Aki, CBP’s field office director, the amount of heroin found in the vehicle set a new record.
“This interception is a direct result of the relentless vigilance and expertise of our CBP officers and their K-9 partners,” Aki said. “They stand on the front lines every day, committed to disrupting criminal networks and ensuring the safety and security of our communities.”
In another major drug bust on Oct. 31, the CBP seized cocaine valued at $1.2 million in Donna, Texas. The narcotics were found at the Donna International Bridge, according to federal authorities.
A CBP officer referred a vehicle driven by a 32-year-old Mexican citizen for a second inspection using K-9 officers. During the search, officers found 19 packages allegedly containing about 43 pounds of cocaine inside the vehicle.
The narcotics were worth an estimated $1.3 million, according to CBP.
Homeland Security special agents arrested the driver, who was not named, and started a criminal investigation, according to authorities.