Feds near border seize 180 lbs. of meth in 1 hour

More than 180 pounds of methamphetamine was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in a pair of traffic stops in Southern California that occurred less than an hour apart on Jan. 18.

The first discovery occurred at about 3:20 p.m., when agents stopped a man driving a blue Dodge minivan on the 8 Freeway near the Buckman Springs exit in Campo.

A K-9 unit detected narcotics in the vehicle, and agents “discovered nine foil-wrapped packages, consistent with narcotics, hidden in a compartment of the van,” the Border Patrol said in a news release.

Testing confirmed the packages contained meth, the total of which was just short of 100 pounds, officials said.

Less than an hour later near the same location, agents stopped a woman driving a Honda sedan with her two children in the vehicle.

A K-9 unit again detected drugs, and agents found 80 cellophane-wrapped packages “hidden throughout the vehicle,” officials said.

Testing again confirmed the presence of meth, which in this case totaled almost 84 pounds.

That woman, identified only as a 22-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested, and her children were released to family members.

“Two significant drug loads were taken off of our streets by our dedicated agents,” said San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel. “Thankfully, two children were also removed from a dangerous situation.”

To report information to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact 911 or 619-498-9900.