WINTERHAVEN, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Andrade port of entry stopped an alleged narcotic smuggling trifecta by a man after officers found fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine in the vehicle he was driving on Monday.

The incident occurred on Jan. 13, at about 7:15 a.m., when a CBP officer conducting inspections encountered the 36-year-old U.S. citizen driving a 1997 Chevrolet truck. The officer referred the vehicle for a more in-depth examination.

CBP officers pulled three types of

narcotics from a truck's gas tank.

During the intensive inspection, a CBP canine team screened the vehicle and the detector dog alerted to the gas tank. CBP officers discovered and removed 15 wrapped packages. Of the 15 packages, one was fentanyl, seven were heroin and the remaining seven were methamphetamine. The weight of the narcotics was 49 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $278,000.

“CBP officers work in various specialty units to assist in protecting the frontline,” said Andrade Officer in Charge Roberto Garcia. “One of those units is the CBP canine team that greatly enhances our ability to interdict these type of dangerous narcotics.”

The driver was arrested and turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigation agents for further processing. He was later transported to the Imperial County Jail to await arraignment.

CBP officers seized the vehicles and narcotics.