OCOTILLO, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a teenager attempting to smuggle methamphetamine through the immigration checkpoint Thursday afternoon.
The incident occurred at approximately 4 p.m., when a silver Acura MDX approached the State Route 2 checkpoint. A Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted to the vehicle in the primary inspection lane. Agents directed the vehicle to enter the secondary inspection area for further investigation.
During their inspection, agents discovered 14 plastic wrapped packages of suspected narcotics inside the spare tire. The contents tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine. Agents arrested the driver and transported him to the El Centro Processing Center for further processing.
The total weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 43.62 pounds with an estimated value more than $98,000.
El Centro Sector turned over the driver, a 17-year-old United States citizen, the vehicle, and the narcotics to Imperial Valley Narcotics Task Force.
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