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  4. Border Patrol Finds Meth in Air Conditioning Unit

Border Patrol Finds Meth in Air Conditioning Unit

Release Date
Thu, 07/07/2016

SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Highway 86 checkpoint, arrested a man suspected of smuggling methamphetamine inside an air conditioning unit yesterday.

20.27 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $109,080
20 lbs. of methamphetamine hidden
inside an AC unit

The incident occurred at approximately 6 p.m., after a 39-year-old man approached the checkpoint in a black Ford Fusion where 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 a vacuum sealed bundle of methamphetamine hidden inside the gutted housing of an air conditioning unit.

The methamphetamine weighed 20.27 pounds with an estimated street value of $109,080.

The man, a United States citizen, the vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.

On June 22 San Diego Sector Border Patrol Agents uncovered a similar drug smuggling scheme.

From Oct. 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, El Centro Sector had 11,989 apprehensions and seized more than 1,015 pounds of methamphetamine.

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