On Wednesday morning, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a man suspected of smuggling more than $200,000 worth of crystal methamphetamine and heroin during a traffic stop on northbound Interstate 15 near Temecula.
A K-9 unit from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department performed a search of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert to the trunk.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., agents working along Interstate 15 stopped a 30-year-old male Mexican national driving a 2000 Acura TL near the Border Patrol checkpoint in Temecula. Agents requested the assistance of a K-9 team from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to perform a cursory inspection. The K-9 alerted to the trunk of the vehicle. Agents searched the trunk and discovered 10 bundles of crystal methamphetamine and two bundles of heroin hidden inside the spare tire. The crystal methamphetamine weighed 10.80 pounds and the heroin weighed 3.86 pounds. The illicit narcotics had an estimated street value of $208,320.
The suspected smuggler and narcotics were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation. The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.
