August 26, 09

NEWS / $500K Cocaine Cache in Gas Tank Intercepted by Border Patrol

Pine Valley, Calif. — Last Friday morning U.S. Border Patrol agents in San Diego Sector seized more than 51 pounds of cocaine stashed inside the gas tank of a SUV at the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint on Interstate 8 near Pine Valley.

At around 9:30 a.m., agents at the checkpoint encountered a Jeep Cherokee Sport driven by a 26-year-old male U.S. citizen. A Border Patrol canine team was summoned to conduct an exterior search on the SUV. The Border Patrol K-9 alerted on the vehicle, prompting agents to investigate further.


Agents inspected the undercarriage of the vehicle and noticed the gas tank had been tampered with. After removing the gas tank, Border Patrol agents discovered a modified compartment within the gas tank that contained 20 wrapped bundles of cocaine. The estimated street value is more than $516,000.


The suspected drug smuggler was arrested and later turned over, along with the narcotics, to the Drug Enforcement Administration.


Despite recent innovative concealment methods carried out by drug smugglers in their attempts to transport their illicit contraband, U.S. Border Patrol agents have maintained a strong enforcement posture through enhanced detection capabilities. Since October 1, 2008, the men and women of San Diego Sector have seized more than 25,500 pounds of marijuana and 1,570 pounds of cocaine in San Diego Sector.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/08242009_4.xml