Border Patrol seizes $9.8M in cocaine at San Clemente checkpoint as record-low crossings free agents for drug interdiction

U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the San Diego Sector seized more than 1,435 pounds of cocaine valued at $9.8 million during two vehicle inspections just three minutes apart at the San Clemente checkpoint last month, the agency reported Friday.

Agents referred both vehicles to secondary inspection on Oct. 25 after observing suspicious behavior — including one driver attempting to reverse out of the checkpoint. A Border Patrol K-9 alerted on both vehicles, leading agents to discover 550 vacuum-sealed packages concealed inside black garbage bags. A field test yielded a presumptive positive result for cocaine.

Both drivers were arrested and the Drug Enforcement Administration took custody of the suspects and narcotics pending federal prosecution.

The seizure puts the San Clemente station on track for a record year in narcotics interdictions, according to San Clemente Station Patrol Agent in Charge J.D. Scott, who attributed the increase directly to the drop in illegal border crossings.

"A few years ago, our agents were deployed to the immediate border and processed hundreds of illegal aliens," Scott said. "With illegal border entries in San Diego at all-time lows, we now have the agents needed to keep our checkpoint open longer and to maintain a strong Border Patrol presence along our I-5 corridor."

The San Clemente checkpoint, located on Interstate 5 about 70 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, serves as a secondary enforcement zone where agents screen northbound vehicles for drugs, smuggled persons and other contraband.

The seizure was publicized by San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent on X on Monday and follows a string of major drug interdictions along the corridor this year, including the seizure of 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a tomatillo shipment at the Otay Mesa port of entry last month.