It happened last Thursday along the 5 Freeway near the Vista Hermosa Highway exit.
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Agents assigned to the San Clemente Border Patrol Station conducted a vehicle stop on a grey sedan when the canine smelled something near the trunk. Agents noticed the spare tire was heavier than normal and later found 15 cellophane-wrapped packages containing blue pills, authorities said. Tests later confirmed the presence of fentanyl.
Border Patrol officials said the pills have an estimated street value of $1.7 million.
The driver along with the pills were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the vehicle was seized by Border Patrol.
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The seizure is part of the recently announced Operation Apollo, a joint regional operation comprised of federal, state, and local agencies working to combat the fentanyl crisis.