$55K Worth of Methamphetamine Seized at Checkpoint

SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested two United States citizens accused of attempting to smuggle methamphetamine through an immigration checkpoint Thursday afternoon.

The incident occurred at about 12:17 p.m., when a silver 2004 Mercedes SL approached the Highway 111 checkpoint. The agent in primary inspection referred the vehicle to the secondary inspection due to a pre-primary Border Patrol K-9 alert.

During secondary inspection, a Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted to the trunk of the vehicle and discovered a duffel bag containing 20 clear vacuum sealed bundles of a white crystalline substance. The contents inside the plastic bags tested positive for methamphetamine.

The driver, a 60-year-old male, and his passenger, a 37-year-old woman, were caught with 20 pounds of methamphetamine, with an estimated value of $55,000.00.

The individuals, vehicle, and narcotics were later turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency.