Border Patrol seizes more than $1.7 million worth of meth near border in Whatcom County

Bellingham — U.S. Border Patrol Agents in Blaine found and seized more than $1.7 million of crystal methamphetamine in a residential area near the U.S.-Canada border last week.

At approximately 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, Border Patrol Agents found and searched an abandoned Hummer H3 and discovered multiple large duffle bags inside, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection release Wednesday, Sept. 14.

The agents searched the duffle bags and found a white, crystalline substance, which was tested and identified as methamphetamine, according to the release.

Nearly 450 pounds of meth and the Hummer were seized, the release reported.

“Vigilant and steadfast, Blaine Sector Border Patrol agents secure and protect our nation from those who wish to do us harm,” Blaine Sector Chief Patrol Agent David S. BeMiller said in the release. “This seizure is an excellent example of their commitment to this honorable mission by taking nearly 450 pounds of methamphetamine off the streets.”

The drug seizure represents the largest by Blaine Sector agents in the past two fiscal years, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection drug seizure statistics, and the largest methamphetamine seizure in at least the past four years.

Between October and July, Blaine Sector agents seized a total of one pound of all drugs, according to the data. But the 450 pounds seized last week, pushes the 2022 fiscal year total past the 363 pounds in total drug seizures in fiscal year 2021, which included a total of 342 pounds of seized methamphetamine, according to the data.

Border Patrol agents seized a total of 908 pounds of all drugs in fiscal year 2020, including 261 pounds of meth, the data shows, while 2019 seizure totals were 274 total pounds, which was almost all meth.