$780K in Meth Seized; 2 Arrested

The drug was stuffed in the body of the car and inside the gas tank, officials said.

Border Patrol agents in Southern California seized 78 pounds of vacuum-sealed methamphetamine hidden inside the body of a car stopped at a San Clemente checkpoint Thursday morning, officials said.

The bust occurred at 2 a.m. Thursday when a police dog alerted agents to the meth in a 2008 Chrysler Sebring that authorities had flagged into the checkpoint, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said in a press release.

A 33-year-old Mexican national and his passenger were arrested, officials said.

Agents searched the vehicle and found 19 vacuum-sealed packages of methamphetamines throughout the body of the car and inside the gas tank.

Tthe drugs had a value of $780,400, officials said.

The men booked into custody on suspicion of possession of meth with intent to distribute.

"Drug smugglers are unyielding in their attempts to bring illicit drugs into our country for sale within our communities," said David BeMiller, an agent in charge of the San Clemente checkpoint.

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