San Ysidro resident Ricardo Lujan, 44, is facing federal charges after a routine traffic stop in Oceanside turned up $2.1 million worth of narcotics hidden throughout his Mitsubishi Endeavor SUV. The stash—89.50 kilograms of cocaine and 68.90 kilograms of methamphetamine—was vacuum-sealed and concealed inside floorboards, door panels, and the center console, authorities said.
The bust unfolded just after midnight on November 17, 2016, when an Oceanside police officer conducting random vehicle registration checks on Harbor Drive spotted Lujan’s SUV with expired tags. As Lujan entered the vehicle and attempted to drive off, the officer initiated a stop. During the encounter, Lujan, the registered owner, appeared visibly nervous and consented to a search.
A U.S. Border Patrol canine handler was called to the scene. The dog immediately alerted to the scent of narcotics inside the SUV. That greenlight triggered a full-scale search by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the San Diego Narcotics Task Force.
Agents tore into the vehicle’s interior, uncovering 99 vacuum-sealed packages of cocaine and 58 of methamphetamine. The cocaine alone carries an estimated wholesale value of $1.7 million. The methamphetamine haul is valued at approximately $450,000—totaling a $2.1 million narcotics payload.
Lujan was taken into federal custody and charged with possession with intent to distribute, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841. He is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Major for arraignment on November 18 at 2 p.m.
The investigation was handled jointly by the Oceanside Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s San Diego Narcotics Task Force, and U.S. Border Patrol out of the San Clemente Station. The charges against Ricardo Lujan are accusations; he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking