Blythe, Calif. - U.S. Border Patrol agents seized several bundles of marijuana at the Highway 78 checkpoint south of Blythe, Calif. on Saturday.
At about 4 p.m., Border Patrol agents assigned to the Blythe Station encountered a white Jeep Grand Cherokee. The vehicle was referred for secondary inspection when a Border Patrol canine team alerted to the vehicle.
In secondary, agents discovered a hidden compartment constructed out of welded metal inside the front driver's side tire. The hidden compartment contained six plastic-wrapped bundles of marijuana. Agents checked the remaining three tires and found similar compartments.
Border Patrol agents seized a total of 24 bundles of marijuana with a combined weight of 102 pounds. The marijuana, with an estimated street value of $81,600, was turned over to the Imperial County Sheriff's Office along with the vehicle and driver.
To report suspicious activity, contact the Yuma Sector Border Patrol's toll free telephone number at 1-866-999-8727.