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Border Patrol seizes fire extinguisher with cocaine inside

Posted at 3:05 PM, Jun 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-24 18:05:57-04

Border Patrol agents arrested a woman on suspicion of drug smuggling after finding several pounds of cocaine hidden inside a fire extinguisher in her car.

Customs and Border Protection officials said the arrest and drug seizure happened Thursday at the Border Patrol checkpoint in San Clemente.

According to CBP officials:

"At around 10 a.m., agents encountered a 2008 Dodge Nitro driven by a 20-year-old female Mexican national. After the initial checkpoint inspection, the driver was referred to secondary inspection, where a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the cargo area of the SUV.

During a closer inspection of the vehicle, agents discovered an unusually heavy fire extinguisher in the rear of the vehicle. They opened the canister and found 6.83 pounds of cocaine inside. The narcotics were valued at $81,960.

The woman was arrested for narcotics smuggling and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the cocaine. The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol."