SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — The U.S. Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector has discovered smugglers are hiding illicit drugs inside car batteries after intercepting multiple loads of narcotics concealed in this manner.

One such haul was found on Aug. 20 when Border Patrol agents and San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies stopped a Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling north on Interstate 5 in Carlsbad, California.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 9.25 pounds of cocaine and 2.1 pounds of methamphetamine inside the battery.

Similar findings have been made in the San Diego Sector in recent months, including the seizure of 32.8 pounds of fentanyl on April 14; 4.85 pounds of fentanyl on July 24; and 16.2 pounds of fentanyl plus $1,000 in cash on July 28.

“Since about April 2025, we’ve had four different seizures that involved basically removing the contents of the battery and using the battery as a containment device for narcotics,” said Agent Joseph Rood, spokesman for Border Patrol San Diego Sector.

Rood said the vehicles stopped all came from Mexico and entered the U.S. through ports of entry.

“We’ve seen all manners of methods of concealing narcotics from car tires to baby car seats, hidden compartments, makeshift compartments, door panels, gas tanks this is just a new method we’ve started to see a spike in,” he said.

Rood said they are seeing a rise in drug smuggling as cartels try to compensate for the loss of revenue made from human smuggling.

“We’ve basically put a huge damper on their ability to smuggle humans and so they’re trying to make a buck in the easiest way possible, that involves narcotics smuggling and we’re here to stop that, protect our communities.”

According to the Border Patrol, San Diego Sector has seized 10,696 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,751 pounds of cocaine, 521 pounds of fentanyl, and 56 pounds of heroin this fiscal year, which ends which started on Oct. 1.