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Border Patrol Intercepts Cocaine Cache Worth Half a Million
April 1, 2009MURRIETTA, Calif. -- A Border Patrol vehicle stop on Interstate 215 in Murrieta Monday resulted in the seizure of more than 50 pounds of cocaine, which was found stashed inside two secret compartments in a pickup truck, according to officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
USCBP officials said an agent stopped a Dodge Dakota pickup truck on the interstate, near the exit to Murrieta Hot Springs Road.
During an interview, the driver of the truck displayed nervous behavior and inconsistently answered an agent’s questions.
A Border Patrol K9 team responded to conduct a search of the vehicle and a dog alerted on the vehicle, leading agents to conduct a further search of the pickup truck.
Agents found two secret compartments located inside the rear quarter panels of the pickup truck’s cab.
The compartments contained 20 packages of cocaine weighing a total of 51.48 pounds. The cocaine has an estimated street value of more than $500,000, according to the Border Patrol.
The 29-year-old driver was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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