BORDER – JACUMBA, CA: Another day at the U.S./Mexico border, another smuggling arrest – of both drugs and humans. This time, a 41-year-old man was arrested after San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents found narcotics and illegal aliens inside his vehicle.
First, at around 9:40 a.m. on March 23rd, a suspicious Dodge minivan was pulled over after it exited Interstate 8 at Jacumba in East County San Diego. Agents approached the vehicle and found seven of the eight passengers laying on top of each other in the back seat. They all admitted to being Mexican nationals in the U.S. without proper documentation.
The agents subsequently arrested seven adult Mexican males with ages ranging from 27 to 45, as well as a 15-year-old juvenile, then took them to a nearby Border Patrol station for processing. The men and boy are currently in DHS custody, pending removal proceedings.
Upon further inspection of the minivan, agents discovered a veritable drugstore inside — 24 different narcotic and prescription medications in the form of methamphetamine, heroin, Xanax, fentanyl liquid and patches, codeine, and oxycodone. To top it all off, there was $1,700 in U.S. currency, drug paraphernalia, burglary tools and firearm parts in the vehicle.
The driver of the Dodge minivan was a 41-year-old U.S. citizen driver who has been booked for alien smuggling and illegal possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute. The vehicle was seized by Border Patrol.
To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from our nation’s borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.
