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  4. Agents Seize Cocaine, Meth in Single Smuggling Attempt

Agents Seize Cocaine, Meth in Single Smuggling Attempt

Release Date
Mon, 01/28/2019

SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Highway 86 checkpoint arrested a man suspected of smuggling methamphetamine and cocaine concealed in an aftermarket floor compartment underneath the driver and passenger seats Sunday afternoon.

The arrest occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m., when a 35-year-old Mexican national approached the Border Patrol checkpoint in a brown 2015 Renault Duster Expression.

As the vehicle approached the primary inspection booth, a Border Patrol K9 team alerted to the vehicle.  The primary agent referred the vehicle for a secondary inspection.

Agents pulled 61 packages from a man's car.
Agents pulled 61 packages from a man's car

During the secondary inspection, agents discovered 61 wrapped packages hidden within an aftermarket floor compartment underneath the driver and passenger seats.  Of the 61 packages 56-tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamines. The other five packages tested positive for the characteristics of cocaine.

The 56 packages containing methamphetamine had a combined weight of 109.65 pounds with an estimated street value of $284,856. The five packages containing cocaine weighed a total of 13.12 pounds with a street value of $170,560.

The vehicle and the narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Mar 28, 2024