U.S. Border Patrol agents in Orange County seized more than 90,000 Xanax pills Wednesday during a traffic stop on the 5 Freeway near Camp Pendleton.
Around 4:50 p.m., agents from the San Clemente Station, part of the San Diego Sector, pulled over a black pickup truck traveling north and interviewed the driver.
A drug sniffing dog was requested to the scene, which alerted them to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, authorities said.
A search revealed 11 boxes containing packages labeled as Farmapram, the equivalent of Xanax sold in Mexico. Xanax is a Schedule IV controlled substance used to treat anxiety and panic disorders and can be dangerous when misused for recreational purposes, officials said.
Agents took the driver into custody and transported the vehicle and the recovered narcotics to a nearby Border Patrol station for further investigation.
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Photos from U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector shows a cache of illegal Xanax pills that were recovered during a traffic stop near San Clemente on April 16, 2025. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) -
Photos from U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector shows a cache of illegal Xanax pills that were recovered during a traffic stop near San Clemente on April 16, 2025. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) -
Photos from U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector shows a cache of illegal Xanax pills that were recovered during a traffic stop near San Clemente on April 16, 2025. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
Border Patrol officials said the boxes contained 90,090 pills with an estimated street value exceeding $600,000.
The driver, whose name was not released, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the vehicle and narcotics. They faces possible state charges for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
“This seizure sends a clear message: we will not tolerate dangerous drugs on our streets,” said Jeffrey Stalnaker, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the CBP San Diego Sector. “This is a significant win, but our work continues.”
The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information regarding suspected smuggling of drugs, humans or other illegal material are urged to call 911, or contact CBP San Diego Sector officials at 619-498-9900.