EL CENTRO, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol Agents seized over 78.5 pounds of methamphetamine in less than 12 hours in two separate events.
The first incident occurred Thursday at approximately 1:30 p.m., when a man driving a tan Toyota Solara 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 packages inside the rear quarter panels on both sides of the vehicle. The white crystal like substance inside the packages tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine 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 methamphetamine was approximately 68.04 pounds with an estimated value of $135,090.
El Centro Sector turned over the driver, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, the vehicle and the narcotics to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
The second incident occurred Friday at approximately 1 a.m., when agents working east of the Calexico West Port of Entry responded to an area where two individuals had made an illegal entry into the United States. During the search agents noticed an orange construction worker vest abandoned on the ground. Agents grabbed the vest and discovered multiple plastic wrapped packages inside. Agents took the abandoned vest and its contents to the Calexico Border Patrol Station for processing. The white crystal like substance inside the packages tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine when tested with a narcotics test kit.
The total weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 10.58 pounds with an estimated value of $23,805.
El Centro Sector turned over the narcotics to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.