U.S. Border Patrol agents from the San Diego Sector thwarted a drug smuggling attempt late Friday night, seizing 51 pounds of methamphetamine concealed inside a vehicle’s spare tire.
The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. when agents at the California State Route 94 checkpoint, east of San Diego, stopped a red Toyota pickup truck for inspection. A K-9 unit alerted authorities to the potential presence of contraband, prompting agents to refer the driver to secondary inspection.
Advanced Tools Aid in Drug Discovery
Although the initial search yielded no evidence, agents employed a mobile x-ray scan, which revealed suspicious anomalies in the vehicle’s spare tire located beneath the truck. A follow-up scan using a handheld x-ray device confirmed the presence of concealed packages inside the tire.
Agents dismantled the spare and uncovered 48 individually wrapped packages of a substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine, valued at an estimated $175,000 on the street.
Ongoing Federal Investigation
The vehicle’s driver was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has taken over the case for further investigation.
“Our Border Patrol agents use every tool at their disposal to keep these dangerous narcotics from reaching our streets,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Stalnaker. “This sector is one of the nation’s busiest corridors for drug traffickers, and every action we take is focused on protecting America.”
Regional Drug Interdiction Efforts
This seizure adds to a growing list of narcotics interdictions by the San Diego Sector in fiscal year 2025, including:
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826 pounds of methamphetamine
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1,716 pounds of cocaine
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202 pounds of fentanyl
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56 pounds of heroin
For more information, contact Michael J. Scappechio at [email protected].
