Elderly Man Busted Near Temecula Allegedly Hauling $368K of Meth

Two men— one of them 70-years-old— have been arrested in the last two days trying to haul narcotics across the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint south of Murrieta and Temecula, a Border Patrol agent said Tuesday.

Border Patrol agents patrolling Interstate 15 made the arrests on Sunday and Monday, according to U.S. Border Patrol Spokeswoman Mary Beth Caston. 

The first drug discovery was made around noon Sunday, when agents driving north on the freeway became suspicious of a man in a 2000 Ford F-150, she said.  They pulled the man over at the border checkpoint.

"Agents conducted a canine sniff of his truck, which resulted in a positive alert to the interior of the car," said Caston.  "Agents searched and discovered 27 bricks of methamphetamine hidden inside non-factory compartments in the front and rear seats."

That meth has a street value of $368,200.

The second incident happened around 2:30 p.m. Monday, and involved a 2007 Dodge Caliber which was stopped at the checkpoint.

"A nearby canine alerted to the vehicle, driven by a 38-year-old Mexican national," Caston said.  "Agents searched the vehicle and located 35 bundles of marijuana inside the gas tank."

In total, there were 32.03 pounds of marijuana, valued at $19,218, she said.

Both men were turned over to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and now face drug smuggling charges.

To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.