Federal agents seized more than 51 pounds of suspected fentanyl during anti-smuggling operations along the 15 Freeway this month, the U.S. Border Patrol announced Monday.
The federal agency said its agents, while conducting anti-smuggling operations along the freeway, spotted a Honda CR-V stopped in the middle of the roadway. Interstate-15 begins near the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego County and passes through Nevada, Arizona and Montana.
When the agents approached the vehicle near the Mission Road exit in Fallbrook, in northern San Diego County, one of their K-9s alerted them, prompting a search that uncovered a duffel bag containing 22 bundles of suspected narcotics in the backseat.
The driver and the suspected drugs were taken to the Newton-Azrak Border Patrol Station for processing. The bundles had a combined weight of approximately 51.9 pounds, and preliminary testing indicated the presence of fentanyl, the agency said.
“Fentanyl poses a serious threat to our communities, and our agents stayed committed to prevent these deadly drugs from reaching our streets,” said Justin De La Torre, chief patrol agent for U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector. “This shows the surveillance and professionalism of our agents and the importance of our partnerships in combat the trafficking of dangerous narcotics.”
Border Patrol agents transferred the driver and the suspected fentanyl to the Drug Enforcement Administration for criminal prosecution.