Border Patrol Seizes $810k Worth of Cocaine on 5 Freeway near Camp Pendleton
Border Patrol Agents Make Significant Cocaine Seizure
U.S. Border Patrol agents seized 47.51 pounds of cocaine from a vehicle on the 5 Freeway near Camp Pendleton on February 27, the agency announced on March 3. The agents are assigned to the San Clemente station, which is located in San Diego County, south of the city of San Clemente.
How the Seizure Was Made
Agents stopped the sedan, which was traveling northbound on the 5 Freeway, around 5:45 p.m. The initial stop was prompted by an unspecified incident. Agents interviewed the driver and requested a K-9 unit, which alerted positively to the trunk of the vehicle. A search of the trunk revealed white trash bags filled with cellophane-wrapped cocaine.
Estimated Street Value and Next Steps
The seized drugs have an estimated street value of over $810,000, according to the Border Patrol. The driver and passenger, who is also a man, were taken to a nearby station and face narcotics trafficking charges. The vehicle was seized by the Border Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Agency has custody of the drugs, which is investigating the seizure further.
Recent Narcotics Busts
This bust is one in a series of recent arrests involving San Diego Sector agents. On February 18 and 19, 143 pounds of cocaine and 18 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the 5 Freeway’s San Clemente Border Patrol Checkpoint and the 15 Freeway’s Temecula Border Patrol Checkpoint, respectively. These two busts resulted in the seizure of narcotics worth over $1.2 million, according to the Border Patrol.
Trends and Statistics
San Diego Sector agents have seized 2,862 pounds of cocaine and 782 pounds of fentanyl during fiscal year 2024, and over 900 pounds of cocaine and 150 pounds of fentanyl in the first few months of fiscal year 2025, according to the agency. Agents have seen a "resurgence" of cocaine and fentanyl, according to U.S. Border Patrol Special Operations Supervisor Eric Lavergne.
Increased Narcotics Busts
The increase in narcotics busts can be partially attributed to lower numbers of illegal border crossings, which makes agents available to do different work. "We’ve seen a dramatic downturn in the number of crossings at the border. With that being said, our agents are back on the border patrolling. We don’t have as many agents in processing and dealing with the humanitarian mission we were dealing with recently," Lavergne said. "So the agents are able to get back out there, making interdictions and hopefully put a dent in these criminal organizations’ efforts."
Conclusion
The Border Patrol’s efforts to combat the flow of illegal drugs into the United States are evident in the recent seizures. As the agency continues to adapt to the evolving nature of drug trafficking, it is clear that their dedication to keeping drugs and dangerous poisons out of communities is unwavering.
FAQs
- What was the estimated street value of the seized cocaine?
The estimated street value of the seized cocaine is over $810,000. - How much cocaine was seized in the bust?
47.51 pounds of cocaine were seized. - Who faces narcotics trafficking charges?
The driver and passenger of the vehicle, who is also a man, face narcotics trafficking charges. - What is the estimated total value of the narcotics seized in recent busts?
The recent busts resulted in the seizure of narcotics worth over $1.2 million.
