What appeared to be an ordinary semi-truck traveling along Interstate 15 in Southern California turned into a major drug seizure after Border Patrol agents discovered hundreds of pounds of liquid methamphetamine hidden inside its fuel tank.
According to an announcement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), agents recovered approximately 962 pounds of liquid methamphetamine, valued at nearly $1 million, during a traffic stop near Murrieta, California. The discovery was made with help from a Border Patrol K-9 named Loki, who alerted agents to the suspected narcotics concealed inside the truck.
The Traffic Stop on I-15
According to CBP, the incident happened on September 29, 2026, at approximately 11 a.m., when agents from the San Diego Sector stopped a northbound semi-truck traveling without a trailer on Interstate 15. The truck was stopped about a quarter-mile north of the California Highway Patrol scales. During the encounter, an agent assigned to the Newton-Azrak Border Patrol Station and his K-9 partner, Loki, detected signs of suspected liquid methamphetamine concealed inside at least one of the truck’s fuel tanks. Agents then transported the truck and its driver to the Newton-Azrak Border Patrol Station in Murrieta for further investigation.
CBP did not specify what initially prompted the traffic stop.
More Than 100 Gallons of Liquid Meth
Once the semi arrived at the Border Patrol station, hazardous response specialists were called in to safely remove the suspicious liquid from the fuel tank. Testing confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine. In total, agents recovered approximately 115 gallons of liquid methamphetamine weighing 962 pounds, with an estimated street value of nearly $1 million.
Rather than being hidden in the trailer or mixed into a shipment of freight, the drugs had been concealed inside the semi’s fuel system. The unusual hiding place meant the narcotics were not immediately visible from outside the truck. It was the K-9 inspection that helped agents identify the suspected drugs and led to their discovery.
Driver Turned Over to Investigators, Semi-Truck Seized
According to CBP, the driver, identified as a Mexican national, was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations and local authorities for state prosecution. Border Patrol agents also seized the semi-truck involved in the incident.
The agency’s announcement did not identify the driver by name or provide specific charges. It also did not disclose where the truck originated or where the suspected narcotics were headed. No additional details about the investigation were provided in the announcement.
Credit to the K-9
CBP officials credited the Border Patrol agents and their K-9 partner for uncovering the hidden narcotics. Justin M. De La Torre, chief patrol agent for the San Diego Sector, said the discovery demonstrated the methods criminal organizations use to conceal and transport illegal drugs. He also emphasized the role of trained K-9 units and cooperation between law enforcement agencies in intercepting narcotics.
In this case, Loki’s detection helped turn a traffic stop into 115 gallons of liquid methamphetamine recovered, a semi-truck seized, and a driver turned over to investigators.
San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Justin M. De La Torre released a statement that said, “This massive seizure of liquid methamphetamine highlights the lengths these transnational criminal organizations will go to smuggle hard narcotics into our communities . . . The vigilance of our agents, the reliability of our K-9 units, and our strong multi-agency partnerships are vital to dismantling these illicit smuggling operations and keeping deadly drugs off our streets.”
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