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Border Patrol Agents Discover Meth, Cocaine in Gas Tank

Release Date
Thu, 02/04/2016

SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested a man suspected of drug smuggling at the Highway 86 checkpoint after they discovered packages of cocaine and methamphetamine hidden in the fuel tank of the vehicle on Wednesday.

Agents found almost 40 pounds of narcotics inside a car's fuel tank.

Agents found almost 40 pounds of narcotics inside a car's fuel tank.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m., when a 22-year-old man approached the checkpoint driving a white Ford Explorer.

A Border Patrol detection canine alerted to the vehicle.  Agents referred the man to the secondary inspection area for a closer examination.  After an intensive search, agents discovered 10 vacuum sealed bundles of cocaine and eight bundles of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle’s fuel tank.

The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 14.58 pounds with an estimated street value of $145,800.  The cocaine weighed 25.36 pounds and had an estimated street value of $405,760.

The man, a Mexican citizen, the vehicle, and 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 the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021