Border Patrol Agents Intercept Cocaine Haul Near Murrieta

MURRIETA, CA — Two U.S. citizens were arrested this week by border patrol agents working Interstate 15 near Murrieta, authorities announced.

The arrestees, ages 46 and 19, were taken into custody early Monday morning after agents found 19 pounds of cocaine in their vehicle, according to a San Diego Sector Border Patrol news release.

The incident began around 5:30 a.m. when agents pulled over "a suspicious driver" traveling northbound on Interstate 15 in a Jeep Liberty, the agency reported.

During the stop, a dog was used to sniff out the Jeep.

"The service canine alerted to the presence of narcotics," the agency said. "Agents physically searched the vehicle and found two bundles of suspected narcotics beneath a sweater in the back seat of the vehicle, and another five bundles concealed inside the vehicle’s dashboard."

The haul tested positive for cocaine, according to the news release.

"The total weight of the cocaine was approximately 19 pounds, with an estimated street value of $274,050," the agency said.

The cocaine, along with the 46-year-old driver and 19-year-old passenger, were turned over to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Their identities were not released. The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.