Man, juvenile arrested after fentanyl seized in South Bay

CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A man and a juvenile were arrested in South Bay after being found with narcotics, authorities said.

• The Nexstar Media video above explains what fentanyl is and why it's dangerous

As part of an effort to counter cross-border narcotics smuggling activity in the region, San Diego sheriff’s detectives were conducting surveillance near Third and Orange Avenues in Chula Vista on Friday morning. 

During this operation, sheriff’s detectives saw a 13-year-old boy meet a 19-year-old man who was carrying a backpack. After the man, later identified as Martin Corona, handed him the backpack, the juvenile walked into a nearby liquor store, where officers contacted him to conduct a truancy assessment.

Detectives said the backpack contained five kilograms of powdered fentanyl. This ultimately led to the arrest of both suspects, who were then taken to the Imperial Beach Sheriff’s Substation.

Corona was already on probation for felony narcotics convictions, and he is now facing charges of narcotics trafficking, child endangerment and conspiracy, authorities said. The juvenile was cited and released to the custody of his parents.