Border Patrol agents apprehended two Mexican nationals in San Diego this week that were smuggling more than $1 million in illegal drugs between the two of them.
The arrests took place in two separate incidents but on the same day. The first man arrested was driving a late model Nissan Sentra and was told to pull his vehicle off to the side for further inspection when he began behaving suspiciously at the San Clemente checkpoint.
The Border Patrol agents used drug-sniffing k-9s to inspect the vehicle more closely. During the search, the K-9 unit uncovered more than 30 bundles of narcotics including methamphetamines, heroin, and other drugs with an estimated street value of approximately $519,000.
A few hours later, Border Patrol agents stopped another Mexican national driving a late model Dodge Ram after he exhibited suspicious driving maneuvers. The K-9 unit was called to the scene and upon further inspection of the vehicle, nearly 40 pounds of cocaine was uncovered in the truck’s dashboard panel area. The street value of that stash was estimated at approximately $498,000.
Both men were handed over to the Drug Enforcement Agency and are expected to be charged with narcotics smuggling and other federal offenses. Border Patrol agents who arrested the men said they are not certain at this point whether or not the two Mexican nationals are working for the same cartel or if the incidents are connected in any other way.
That type of information will be part of what the DEA looks for during its investigation. Border Patrol agents, like many law enforcement K-9 units, rely heavily on the abilities of their canine fellow officers and consider them an integral part of the overall drug enforcement portion of their jobs.