SALTON SEA, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a United States citizen attempting to smuggle narcotics through an immigration checkpoint, Tuesday evening.
At approximately 7:10 p.m., a red 2008 Jeep Patriot approached the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint. The agent inspecting vehicles in the primary lanes referred the Jeep to secondary inspection.
A Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted to the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Agents conducted an in-depth inspection of the vehicle utilizing x-ray scanning capabilities. X-ray images revealed several anomalies located along the quarter panels. Agents discovered a total of 57 packages, 52 packages containing a white crystal-like substance that tested positive for methamphetamine and five packages of a black-tar-like substance that tested positive for heroin.
The 19-year-old male driver was in possession of 31.5 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $242,900 and 6.2 kilograms of heroin with an estimated street value of $111,780.
The man, vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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