U.S. Border Patrol agents seized almost $1 million in drugs from two suspected smugglers at the I-5 checkpoint south of San Clemente Thursday.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., agents stopped a 31-year-old male United States citizen driving a 2000 Honda Odyssey, according to a release from the Border Patrol.
Suspicious agents brought in a drug dog to sniff out the vehicle, resluting in finding 17 bundles of cocaine hidden near the rear quarter panels. The cocaine weighed 34.83 pounds and had an estimated street value of $383,130, according to the release.
The second incident happened later that day at 4:30 p.m. A 46 year-old male United States citizen driving a 2000 Ford Explorer was stopped at the checkpoint.
The driver’s "nervous demeanor" again tipped off agents, who brought in a dog. Agents searched the vehicle and discovered three trash bags containing bundles of cocaine and methamphetamine inside of a speaker box in the rear cargo area, the release states.
The cocaine weighed 38.80 pounds and had an estimated street value of $426,800. The methamphetamine weighed 8.71 pounds and had an estimated street value of $174,200, according to the release.
The suspected smugglers and narcotics involved in both incidents were taken into custody and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation. The vehicles were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol, the release states.
