U.S. Citizen Arrested at Southern California Border with $130,000 Worth of FYL Hidden in Taxi

A United States citizen was apprehended while attempting to re-enter the country from Mexico after authorities uncovered an estimated $130,000 worth of FYL concealed in the taxi they were traveling in, officials reported.

The incident unfolded around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday as a ride-share taxi transporting four passengers, approached the U.S. Border Patrol immigration checkpoint on Highway 86 in Southern California, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Thursday.

Upon reaching the inspection area, a Border Patrol agent in the primary inspection zone flagged the vehicle for further scrutiny. Subsequently, a K-9 unit trained to detect hidden humans and narcotics requested permission to search the vehicle, which was granted by the driver. The K-9 alerted the trunk area, where agents discovered several bags. Additionally, the K-9 detected suspicious items—a backpack and a speaker—claimed by one of the passengers.

Upon investigation, authorities uncovered multiple wrapped packages consistent with materials typically used to transport illicit substances. A sample taken from one of these packages tested positive for FYL.

The seized FYL, weighing just under 10 pounds, held an estimated street value of $130,000, as reported by CBP.

The U.S. citizen implicated in the smuggling attempt was apprehended and handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the confiscated narcotics hidden in the backpack and speaker.

This operation falls under Operation Apollo, a collaborative effort involving federal, state, and local agencies aimed at combating the menace of FYL and other synthetic narcotics.

No specific details regarding the arrested U.S. citizen have been disclosed, and investigations into the incident are ongoing, according to authorities.

Source: ABC News