Border Patrol and local law enforcement agents arrested three individuals in California who had successfully smuggled 232 pounds of fentanyl into the country. The market value of the seized drug amounts to three million dollars and could potentially kill more than 50 million people.
This was announced on his Twitter account by Raul Ortiz, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, accompanied by an image of the bags of fentanyl intercepted. The officer stressed in his publication that "we continue to take the fight to the cartels and drug traffickers."
San Diego Agents & local LEO partners arrested 3 and seized 232 lbs. of Fentanyl worth over $3 million. This amount of Fentanyl had the potential to kill over 50 million people. We continue to take the fight to the cartels and narcotics smugglers!
Incredible Work!@USBPChiefSDC pic.twitter.com/A4IXpNRnlR
— Chief Raul Ortiz (@USBPChief) February 28, 2023
Investigation into how the fentanyl crossed the border
According to Bill Melugin, Fox's Los Angeles correspondent, the arrest occurred when the vehicle in which the traffickers were traveling was stationary at a traffic stop in Orange County, 75 miles from the U.S. border. "This highlights the fact this fentanyl had already made it into the U.S. either via a missed vehicle at a CBP port of entry, or by being backpacked into the U.S. by drug mules, then smuggled further by vehicle," the journalist summarized.
NEW: Border Patrol reports making an enormous fentanyl bust in SoCal - 232 lbs smuggled in a vehicle, enough lethal doses to kill 50 million people. BP sources tell me the bust took place during a traffic stop on a highway in San Clemente in Orange County, 75 miles inland from… https://t.co/Efh5YdKsQi pic.twitter.com/HMsos9X7ig
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) February 28, 2023
Third major drug bust in two weeks
This is not an isolated event. Mellugin noted that this is the third seizure of a significant quantity of this drug on the southwest border of the country in a very short period of time. In the last two weeks, Border Patrol agents seized 93 pounds of this opiate in Yuma, Arizona, and another 24 pounds in the Nogales Desert, also in the Grand Canyon State.
In his personal account of the situation, Chief Ortiz highlighted that, in the last 72 hours, Border Patrol made 13,400 apprehensions of illegal immigrants in which, 248 pounds of marijuana, 52 pounds of cocaine and 1 firearm were seized. In addition to these seizures, there was also the arrest of 3 persons charged with sexual offenses, 2 MS-13 members, two murderers and another person accused of homicide.
Past 72 Hours...
- Over 13,400 Apprehensions
- 248 lbs. of Marijuana
- 235 lbs. of Fentanyl
- 52 lbs. of Cocaine
- 1 Firearm
- 3 Sex Offenders
- 2 MS-13 Members
- 2 Murderers
- 1 Manslaughter ChargeKeep up the great work! pic.twitter.com/dFFdKkgMlC
— Chief Raul Ortiz (@USBPChief) February 27, 2023