A traffic stop on Interstate 5 escalated into a six-hour manhunt on Thursday at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, culminating in the seizure of a substantial quantity of cocaine and fentanyl, military officials said.

The incident began around 5:40 p.m. when deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department attempted to stop a vehicle along the highway. After the driver exited the freeway, a deputy approached the vehicle, but the driver suddenly turned onto the Marine Corps base. According to Sgt. Lizbeth Gwisdalla, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department, deputies did not pursue the vehicle onto the base but immediately informed military personnel of the situation.

The two unidentified suspects entered Camp Pendleton through a base gate and abandoned their vehicle in a housing area on the base, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) said in a statement. In response, NCIS initiated a search across the installation and issued a temporary shelter-in-place order. The housing complex on the base accommodates approximately 38,000 military family members, and the broader base population, including military and civilian personnel, can reach up to 70,000 during the day.

According to NCIS, roughly 30 base personnel were involved in the search for the suspects during the extended manhunt. While the suspects remained at large during the pursuit, law enforcement located the abandoned vehicle and discovered about 112 pounds of cocaine and fentanyl inside.

Federal authorities are expected to take over the investigation. Sgt. Gwisdalla indicated that the suspects will likely face federal charges related to drug trafficking and other offenses connected to the incident. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to locate and apprehend the individuals involved.