Border Patrol Stops Drug Smuggler, Seizes Meth on I-5

San Clemente, Calif. – Yesterday, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a suspected smuggler and seized a significant amount of crystal methamphetamine being transported northbound on Interstate 5. At around 11:15 a.m., agents on patrol stopped a Dodge Durango truck near the Avenida Magdalena exit in San Clemente.

The agents interviewed the driver, a 27-year-old male Mexican citizen in possession of a permanent resident alien identification card, living in San Ysdiro, Calif. The agents requested to search the vehicle and were granted permission. A border Patrol K-9 team was summoned to the scene and conducted a cursory inspection of the vehicle.

The Border Patrol K-9 alerted on the vehicle, prompting agents to conduct a physical search. During the search, a total to 12 bundles of crystal methamphetamine were found inside a black duffel bag placed behind the driver’s seat. The driver was arrested for suspicion of drug smuggling. The crystal methamphetamine weighed nearly 15.4 pounds with an estimated street value of $356,000. The suspected smuggler and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration; the vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

Task 1. Read the article.

Task 2. Answer the following questions:

a) Who arrested a suspected smuggler?

b) What was seized?

c) Who was the drug carrier?

d) What team was summoned to the scene?

e) Why was a physical search conducted?

f) Where was the drug found?

g) What was its estimated value?

h) Where were the smuggler and narcotics turned over to?

Task 3. Find the expressions in the article that mean:

a) someone who is thought to be guilty of a crime

b) to take legal possession of some illegal things

c) vehicle

d) not a legal citizen

e) done very quickly without much attention to details

f) warning about possible danger

Task 4. Describe the situation on behalf of the smuggler and the Border Patrol agents.