Border Patrol seizes over 200 pounds of fentanyl

Border Patrol agents have arrested a man who allegedly attempted to smuggle about 250 pounds of synthetic opioid fentanyl across the southern U.S. border.

Agents at the Campo Border Patrol Station, in California, stopped a 2015 Black GMC truck on an interstate near the Golden Acorn Casino at about 3 a.m. Monday, according to an agency press release.

The truck was sniff-searched by a Border Patrol K-9 that alerted agents to the vehicle. 

Border Patrol officers discovered about 250 pounds of potentially deadly fentanyl pills contained in "multiple bundles concealed within the vehicle’s spare tire and gas tank," officials said.

The pills have an estimated street value of over $3.6 million. 

The truck's driver, described as an adult male U.S. citizen, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the synthetic opioids. 

"Our agents prevented these dangerous narcotics from reaching our communities," Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke said.

Just one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of fentanyl is enough to potentially kill half a million people, according to the DEA.

Heitke also said that Border Patrol agents in the agency's San Diego Sector are responsible for over 50% of all the fentanyl seized by the agency this fiscal year.

Agents have reportedly seized approximately 8,400 pounds of fentanyl in fiscal 2022. However, data shows that under the Biden administration, agents are on track to seize fewer pounds of illegal drugs this year than in any other recent year.