SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a woman attempting to smuggle methamphetamine through an immigration checkpoint Saturday morning.
packages of methamphetamine Saturday.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:45 a.m., when a gray 2009 Dodge Journey approached the Highway 86 immigration 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 42 packages of suspected narcotics hidden inside the rocker panels of the vehicle. The contents inside of the packages tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine. Agents arrested the driver and held her for further processing.
The total weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 67.6 pounds with an estimated value of $185,900.
El Centro Sector turned over the 24-year-old woman, a United States citizen, the vehicle, and the narcotics to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
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