Two arrested at Camp Pendleton after breach, 51 kg drugs

Two suspects were arrested at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California following a six-hour manhunt that began after they breached a base gate to evade a police pursuit, authorities said. The search concluded with the seizure of approximately 51 kilograms, or over 110 pounds, of cocaine and fentanyl from the suspects' abandoned vehicle.

The incident began on Thursday, June 11, when deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Office attempted a traffic stop on Interstate 5. The driver evaded authorities and drove onto the military installation in Oceanside. The suspects breached a base gate, abandoned their vehicle in a base housing area, and fled on foot, according to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

The breach prompted a temporary shelter-in-place order for the base community, which includes thousands of military personnel and family members. A multi-agency search was immediately launched, mobilizing approximately 30 personnel from NCIS, the Camp Pendleton Provost Marshals Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Border Patrol, and other responding agencies. Investigators utilized real-time intelligence and tracking support from specialized NCIS...