Border Patrol Agents Intercept Drug Haul Near Temecula

RAINBOW, CA — Two men were recently arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents after their car was pulled over just south of Temecula, and nearly 20 pounds of methamphetamine were found in the vehicle.

Border patrol agents were patrolling along Interstate 15 around 12:30 p.m. Thursday when they spotted a white Mitsubishi Galant heading north near Rainbow.

"When the driver of the vehicle became aware of USBP presence, he hastily exited the freeway," according to USBP Agent Angel L. Moreno.

When agents pulled the driver over, he got out of the car and "immediately assumed a hand-cuffing position, placing his hands behind his back," Moreno said.

The 23-year-old U.S. citizen was questioned and "freely admitted that he had an unknown quantity of narcotics inside the vehicle," Moreno continued.

A K-9 was used to sniff out the car, and a total of 24 packages of suspected narcotics were found in a box on the car's rear floorboard, according to Moreno.

"Testing confirmed the packages contained methamphetamine. The total weight of the packages was 18.3 pounds," Moreno said.

The driver was arrested along with his 22-year-old male passenger, also a U.S. citizen.

During the investigation, the driver told agents that more methamphetamine was left behind at his El Cajon home. Agents investigated the residence and found four more packages, or 3.04 pounds, of the illicit drug, Moreno said.

The narcotics and the arrestees were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Mitsubishi was seized by USBP.