SALTON SEA, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents seized over a half million in illegal narcotics over the weekend.
prevented three attempted smuggling
events Saturday.
The first incident occurred at approximately 8:20 a.m., when a man driving a white Chrysler Sebring approached the Highway 86 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.
While in secondary inspection, agents discovered a fabricated metal compartment inside the oil pan with six packages hidden inside. The white powdery substance found inside four of the packages tested positive for the characteristics of cocaine when tested with a narcotics test kit. The other two packages tested positive for the characteristics of fentanyl. Agents arrested the man and took him to the detention area for further processing.
drugs was seized Saturday.
The total weight of the cocaine was approximately 2.59 pounds with an estimated value of $31,080.
The total weight of the fentanyl was approximately 5 pounds with an estimated value of $56,750.
El Centro Sector turned over the driver, a 21-year-old U.S. Citizen, the vehicle and the narcotics to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The second incident occurred at approximately 10:20 a.m., when a man driving a silver Chrysler PT Cruiser and his passenger approached the Highway 86 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.
agents seized approximately 50
pounds of illegal narcotics.
While in secondary inspection, agents discovered a fabricated metal compartment inside the oil pan with two packages hidden inside. The two packages tested positive for the characteristics of black tar heroin when tested with a narcotics test kit. Agents arrested the man and took him to the detention area for further processing.
The total weight of the heroin was approximately 5.55 pounds with an estimated value of $57,960.
El Centro Sector turned over the driver, a 35-year-old U.S. Citizen, the passenger, a 44-year-old U.S. Citizen, the vehicle and the narcotics to the DEA.
The third incident occurred at approximately 5:55 p.m., when a man driving a white Ford utility truck approached the Highway 86 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.
attempted to smuggle illegal narcotics
through the El Centro Sector.
While in secondary inspection, agents discovered 20 packages inside a black duffle bag in the cargo bed area. The white powdery substance found inside 15 of the packages tested positive for the characteristics of cocaine when tested with a narcotics test kit. The other five packages tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine. Agents arrested the man and took him to the detention area for further processing.
The total weight of the cocaine was approximately 27.7 pounds with an estimated value of $332,400.
The total weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 11.8 pounds with an estimated value of $26,550.
El Centro Sector turned over the driver, a 53-year-old U.S. Citizen, the vehicle and the narcotics to the DEA.