Border Patrol Seizes 51.9 Pounds of Fentanyl on Interstate 15

Federal agents seized approximately 51.9 pounds of suspected fentanyl during a highway interdiction on Interstate 15 in San Diego County this month. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced the details of the seizure on Monday.

The operation began when Border Patrol agents monitoring traffic noticed a Honda CR-V traveling northbound. The vehicle exited at Mission Road, turned around, and stopped voluntarily in the southbound lanes of the highway. A trained canine unit alerted officers to the presence of illegal substances upon approach to the vehicle.

Officers located a travel bag in the rear seat of the SUV containing 22 packages of suspected narcotics. The driver and the seized items were transported to the Newton-Azrak Border Patrol station for processing. Authorities stated the packages weighed a combined 51.9 pounds of fentanyl.

Justin M. De La Torre, chief of the San Diego Sector of U.S. Border Patrol, stated that the agency remains committed to stopping these drugs from reaching local streets. He described fentanyl as a severe threat to communities.

CBP reported that it is coordinating with other law enforcement agencies under the National Security Task Force to combat cartels and transnational criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking. The Border Patrol turned the driver and the suspected fentanyl over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for criminal proceedings.