Singer-songwriter Jewel recently revisited a harrowing and surreal experience from her early career: a real-life encounter with Mexican federal police during an active drug bust. This pivotal event, which unfolded in 1994, later served as the inspiration for one of her most enduring hit songs, "You Were Meant for Me." Jewel recounted the incident during her Not Alone Summit at Wynn Las Vegas in November, elaborating on the details in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine.

The extraordinary episode occurred during the summer of 1994 when Jewel, then 20 years old, was traveling through Mexico with her longtime collaborator Steve Poltz. They had embarked on what was intended to be a quiet songwriting retreat, taking a break from their musical endeavors. While spending time on a remote beach in Baja California, their peaceful respite was interrupted by the appearance of armed men in uniform who identified themselves as Mexican federal police.

Initially, the interaction seemed innocuous. Jewel and Poltz casually inquired if the officers knew of any good spots for whale watching. To their surprise, they were invited onto a small boat. However, the nature of the trip drastically changed mid-journey when the officers informed them that they were, in fact, in the middle of an active drug bust. Jewel recalled asking if the situation was dangerous, to which an officer simply responded, "Sí." The gravity of their predicament became even clearer when she realized that the wooden bench she was sitting on concealed automatic weapons. She watched as officers pursued a fleeing vessel that refused to identify itself and subsequently uncovered large quantities of marijuana hidden beneath rocks along the shoreline.

Despite the high-stakes situation, Jewel experienced moments of disbelief and dark humor, admitting to fears of being framed or imprisoned. She expressed her paranoia about potentially ending up in a "Tijuana prison." Photographs from the intense incident, including one iconic image of Jewel holding a rifle alongside the officers, later circulated online, becoming a notable piece of '90s music lore, highlighting the unusual circumstances of her burgeoning career.

In the immediate aftermath of the drug bust, Jewel and Poltz remained in Mexico for a brief period, continuing their songwriting efforts. It was during this time that the profound experience found its way into their music, directly inspiring the lyrics and sentiment of "You Were Meant for Me." The song was subsequently released in 1995 on her debut album, "Pieces of You," cementing the dangerous encounter as an unforgettable chapter in her journey to becoming a top-charting artist.