October 22, 09

NEWS / Border Patrol Intercepts Cocaine Hidden in Vans Dashboard

Temecula, Calif. - A U.S. Border Patrol traffic stop on Interstate 15 in Temecula, Calif. yesterday resulted in the arrest of two men for suspicion of cocaine smuggling.


Border Patrol agents were patrolling the interstate at 11:45 a.m., when they spotted the two suspects traveling northbound in a Ford Freestar. The agents stopped the minivan near the Border Patrol checkpoint and conducted an immigration evaluation.


Although the men, both of whom are Mexican nationals, were in the country legally, the agents determined that they had violated the terms of their visitor visas. The men were placed under arrest and a K-9 team was called to the scene, which led to a positive alert to the dash area.


The agents then conducted a physical search of the minivan and discovered 15 bundles of cocaine stashed inside the vehicle’s dashboard. The cocaine had a total weight of 38.62 pounds and an estimated street value of $386,200.


The two suspects, ages 36 and 45, and the narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.


The U.S. Border Patrol deploys coordinated enforcement operations along major routes of egress to prevent the smuggling of illicit narcotics into the country.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/10212009.xml