SAN CLEMENTE, CA – In a significant drug enforcement action, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents confiscated over 38 pounds of fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid, during a routine vehicle stop on Interstate 5. The operation took place near the Vista Hermosa Highway exit on the afternoon of January 18.
The seizure occurred when San Clemente Border Patrol Station agents stopped a grey sedan traveling northbound on the interstate. A Border Patrol canine team performed an air sniff around the vehicle, leading to an alert for the possible presence of narcotics near the trunk. Upon further inspection, agents discovered the spare tire in the trunk was unusually heavy. The sedan and driver were then taken to the San Clemente Border Patrol Station for a detailed examination. Inside the spare tire, agents found 15 cellophane-wrapped packages containing blue pills, later identified as fentanyl.
Laboratory testing confirmed the substance as fentanyl, totaling more than 38 pounds with an estimated street value of approximately $1.72 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration notes that one kilogram of fentanyl can potentially kill half a million people, underscoring the danger of this seizure.
The driver was handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for federal prosecution, and the narcotics were confiscated. The U.S. Border Patrol seized the vehicle involved in the incident.
Chief Patrol Agent Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel emphasized the serious threat posed by fentanyl, even in small quantities, and reaffirmed the Border Patrol’s commitment to thwarting drug trafficking efforts and dismantling criminal organizations responsible for such activities.
This operation is part of the larger regional initiative, Operation Apollo, which involves federal, state, and local agencies collaborating to address the threat from fentanyl and other illegal narcotics.
The San Diego Sector Border Patrol’s efforts in Fiscal Year 2023 have led to the seizure of substantial quantities of various drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to combat drug trafficking and safeguard public health and safety.
