BREAKING: Agents Seize $1M Cash In California Traffic Stop Near Border

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During a traffic stop, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents seized nearly $1 million in U.S. currency, according to Breitbart News.

The seizure of the money was the result of a K-9 following an odor coming from the gas tank.

On August 5, agents working their patrol area near the California/Mexico border stopped a Volkswagen Touareg headed south on Interstate 15 in Escondido, California

During the initial interview, agents identified the driver as a Mexican national.

“The U.S. Border Patrol works tirelessly to protect the Homeland from transnational criminal organizations- the same criminal enterprises that poison our communities with narcotics and smuggle human beings like cargo.,” Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke said in a written statement.

“Seizing illicit gains from these criminal enterprises is one of the tactics the USBP uses to keep our country safe.”

More from Breitbart News:

While one agent conducted the immigration interview, a second agent with a K-9 conducted a walk-around inspection of the SUV. The K-9 alerted to an odor it is trained to detect coming from the gas tank area of the vehicle, officials stated.

The agents conducted a physical search of the vehicle and discovered 65 packages of plastic-wrapped U.S. currency. The agents removed the currency and placed the driver under arrest.

A count revealed the 65 bundles contained $967,460 in cash, officials reported. Border Patrol officials seized the Touareg and the currency. The agents turned the driver over to U.S> Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation into the suspected smuggling operation.