Man arrested for trying to smuggle cocaine

A 21-year-old man was arrested at an East County
U.S. Border Patrol freeway checkpoint for trying to smuggle about 70 pounds of
cocaine through the area in a compact car, authorities reported today.

The motorist, a Mexican citizen, pulled into the Interstate 8 inspection
station in the Pine Valley area in a 2008 Honda Civic about 9:30 a.m. Sunday,
according to USBP public affairs.

As agents looked the vehicle over, a service dog alerted them to the
presence of contraband. During a search of the car, they found 28 bundles of
cocaine hidden behind the rocker panels.

The officers arrested the driver, whose name was not released, and
turned him over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration along with the
narcotics.

The illicit drug haul had an estimated street value of $772,200,
according to the Border Patrol.