San Clemente : Man Held After Chase; 44 Pounds of Pot Found
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A 25-year-old man was arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of smuggling about 44 pounds of marijuana after leading federal agents on a 7-mile chase from the Border Patrol checkpoint into San Clemente, authorities said.
Nicolas Ramirez-Avalos, a Mexican national, was turned over to the North San Diego County Narcotics Task Force, a Border Patrol spokesman said.
Ramirez was chased into San Clemente after he tried to escape a search at the checkpoint a few miles south on Interstate 5, said Mike Greg, supervisory Border Patrol agent.
Officers found in the car 44.2 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated street value of $22,100, Greg said.
Ramirez was first stopped at about 3 a.m. Tuesday, Greg said. Asked to pull over to the secondary checkpoint, Ramirez sped off northbound in his 1985 Buick Skylark. Federal agents pursued.
Ramirez exited the freeway and stopped in a small San Clemente cul-de-sac, Greg said.
Federal agents arrested Ramirez after he leaped out of his car and tried to run away, Greg said.
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