News

Actions

Teen charged with smuggling drugs, hid them in car door panels

Believed to be largest port seizure of fentanyl
Posted at 9:02 PM, Aug 02, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-03 02:20:51-04

SAN YSIDRO, Calif. (KGTV) – United States Custom Border and Protection officers arrested Cristian Araujo Aguirre at the San Ysidro Port of Entry Wednesday after noticing irregularities in his vehicle.

On Tuesday Aguirre was charged with importing 11,490 fentanyl pills, 61 pounds of methamphetamine and 14 pounds of heroin.

Altogether officers removed:

  • 8 packages of heroin, two in the vehicle’s firewall
  • 2 packages of methamphetamine from the rear driver’s side door
  • 2 packages of methamphetamine from the rear driver’s side door
  • 5 packages of methamphetamine from the right rear quarter panel
  • 11 packages of methamphetamine from the right passenger rear door
  • 9 packages of methamphetamine in the spare tire
  • 2 bags and one box of pills (totaling 11,490 pills) in the left rear quarter panel of the vehicle.

The pills tested positive for fentanyl but were designed to resemble M30s, or oxycodone. The U.S. Attorney believes this to be largest port seizure of fentanyl pills across the Southwest Border of the U.S.

According to court records, Aguirre was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. The 19-year-old is a U.S. citizen living in Tijuana. His detention hearing is scheduled for August 7. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 16.

If convicted, Aguirre faces a minimum of 10 years to life and a $1,000,000 fine.