104 pounds of cocaine found in Riverside County drug bust
Authorities discovered 104 pounds of cocaine being smuggled through an immigration checkpoint in Riverside County.
On June 4, U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped a silver SUV at the I-15 North immigration checkpoint in Temecula. While interviewing the driver, a K-9 alerted authorities to the possible presence of narcotics.
After searching the SUV, agents found '40 suspicious bundles that were concealed within the roof in an aftermarket motorized compartment.'
The bundles were removed and were discovered to contain cocaine. The packages weighed a total of 104 pounds. Officials estimated the street value at $708,000.
The driver, who was only identified as a U.S. citizen, was taken into custody by Homeland Security.
The case was referred to the U.S. Attorney's Office for federal charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute.
'Drug smugglers are often resourceful, but our dedicated agents are always watching,' said Jeffrey D. Stalnaker, San Diego Acting Chief Patrol Agent. 'Our agents are the best of the best, and we remain resolute in our mission to keep communities safe.'
To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, the public can call 911 or the San Diego U.S. Border Patrol Sector at 619-498-9900.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
ICE agents detain mother in Pasadena in front of children without showing a warrant
A mother walking with her children in Pasadena was taken into custody by immigration agents over the weekend in an incident that was partially captured on video and has drawn sharp criticism from witnesses. Rosalina Luna Vargas, a mother of two and the primary breadwinner for her family, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on Saturday morning around 8 a.m., according to bystanders. Her children were present at the time of the incident, which took place in broad daylight in the corner of Catalina and Del Mar. The encounter was recorded by Jillian Reed, a Caltech alum and local resident, who was driving by when she noticed a commotion on the sidewalk. In the footage she captured, three individuals in plain clothes—two of whom were masked and wore badges on lanyards—can be seen attempting to force Vargas into an unmarked Honda Accord. A third man, appearing younger and without any visible identification, also participated. 'I saw the commotion while driving, and when I slowed down, the kids shouted for help,' Reed said. 'They kept asking for a warrant. They told the officers they would stop resisting if they just showed them a warrant. One of the men said he had one but didn't show it.' The video cuts off just as Vargas's daughter pleads with Reed to call the police. According to Reed, she did call 911, reporting what she believed at the time to be a possible kidnapping. As the situation escalated, Vargas allegedly broke free from the agents and ran into the courtyard of the nearby Del Mar Park Assisted Living Facility, with her children following close behind. The agents pursued, but were confronted again by the children, who physically tried to shield their mother. 'They formed a human wall,' Reed said. 'One of the kids clung to her, telling her, 'Don't let go! Don't let go!' while crying. Then he started shouting to the crowd, 'I can't lose my mom!'' Reed said the staff at the assisted living facility intervened, telling the agents they were on private property and could not proceed without a warrant. The agents, she said, took photos of everyone present—including Reed—before leaving in two separate vehicles. Pasadena police later arrived and took statements from those at the scene. According to Reed, ICE agents returned later and took Vargas into custody. A family member told Reed the warrant in question was for someone else entirely, and that Vargas and her children had simply been 'in the wrong place at the wrong time.' Community members say the incident highlights growing concerns over ICE's arrest tactics and the lack of transparency in operations conducted in public areas without coordination with local law enforcement. Reed, still shaken, called the incident 'horrific' and questioned whether law enforcement procedures were followed. 'Only two of the three men had badges, and none were in uniform,' she said. 'I didn't know if I was witnessing a hate crime or a kidnapping. And because they might have been law enforcement, I wasn't even sure whether to call the police.' ICE has not publicly released details about the arrest, including the charges or the identity of the agents involved. The incident comes as federal immigration enforcement actions have intensified in parts of Southern California, prompting backlash in immigrant communities and renewed debate about due process, civil rights, and the rights of children in enforcement situations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Witnesses shocked by deadly I-20 crash near Terrell after semi driver allegedly falls asleep
Residents who live off I-20 in Kaufman County, near where the deadly crash allegedly caused by a semi driver falling asleep at the wheel happened, said they're still shaken by what they witnessed. Five people are dead and a sixth person is in the hospital after the crash that shut down I-20 near Hiram Road on Saturday, authorities said. The crash happened at about 2:40 p.m. when the Texas Department of Public Safety said 27-year-old Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel of his 18-wheeler, failing to see stalled traffic. He struck a Ford F-150 carrying five people. Four of the five people in the Ford F-150 were pronounced dead at the scene, while the fifth was care-flighted to a hospital in critical condition, DPS said in a news release. The 18-wheeler driven by Gonzalez-Companioni was then pushed into two other 18-wheelers, causing one to jack-knife and strike a Jeep Compass, a Ford Mustang, and a Honda passenger vehicle, according to Texas DPS. One person in the Jeep Compass struck by the jack-knifed semi was also pronounced dead at the scene, DPS said. Gonzalez-Companioni faces several charges, including five counts of manslaughter, DPS said. The Terrell Volunteer Fire Department described the crash as "horrific" and declared a "mass casualty" event. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, shutting down traffic in both directions as first responders aided the injured and investigators worked to determine the cause. "You heard the crash. It was a big boom." Residents who live at TR3 RV Resort off I-20 said they heard the crash and ran through the field to help those impacted. They said the scene was so graphic, they are still shaken up a day later. "You heard the crash. It was a big boom," said Shelly Timms, who witnessed the crash. "Big, big boom. Then I heard helicopters, so I ran outside." Corinne Mulcahy said she just happened to be looking out the window and saw the crash. "So I looked up and I saw the first truck, I saw his brake lights, saw the F-150, and here comes this tractor trailer," said Mulcahy. "And I'll tell you, man, I don't know how many miles an hour he was going when he was driving, but he hit that car, and I knew he killed everybody in that truck." For hours, the highway was shut down in both directions. "People started calling me and they were like, 'Oh my goodness, do you have a restroom? We've been sitting here for three or four hours,'" said Buddha Wyrick, the property manager at TR3 RV Resort. "I didn't know they had to turn their cars off. So they were like heat exhaustion and stuff." Wyrick said dozens of people walked over to use the restroom. "They were upset and traumatized. There was a few, like, that saw it in front of them," Wyrick said. "They were like, 'We're the fourth car back,' or, 'the second car back.' And they were telling me stories." Residents said tragedies like this serve as a reminder to always be cautious.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Cherokee County grieves passing of retired sheriff
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas (KETK) – The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday the death of their former longtime sheriff, James Campbell, who served the county for 26 years. AFFIDAVIT: Winnsboro ISD coach arrested after attempting to hide sexual relationship between another coach, student Campbell began his tenure as sheriff of Cherokee County in 1994 and served in that position until his retirement in 2020. Before his time in Cherokee County, Campbell served as a highway police officer for the Texas Department of Public Safety. 'We thank Sheriff Campbell for his dedicated 54 years of service to this state and the citizens of Cherokee County. Sheriff Campbell was a true public servant and devoted his life to his community and family,' the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said. 'Though he is no longer with us, Sheriff Campbell has left a permanent mark on both civilians and law enforcement officers that will continue to guide and inspire us.' The sheriff's office offers its thoughts and prayers to his family during this difficult time Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
