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  4. Border Patrol Stops 3 Narcotics Loads on Highway 86

Border Patrol Stops 3 Narcotics Loads on Highway 86

Release Date
Mon, 08/28/2017
Agents pull packages of narcotics from hidden compartment.
Agents pull packages of narcotics
from hidden compartment.

NILAND, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents from the Indio Station assigned to the Highway 86 checkpoint arrested three women suspected of drug smuggling in three separate events over the weekend.

The first incident occurred on Friday night when a 2008 Saturn Outlook driven by a 37-year-old woman approached the checkpoint on Highway 86. Agents referred the vehicle to secondary for further examination. At secondary inspection, a Border Patrol detection canine team alerted to the vehicle. After an intensive search, agents discovered 92 packages of narcotics hidden in the roof of the Outlook.

Agents removed 92 packages from the vehicle, of those, 90 packages tested positive for methamphetamine, and two packages tested positive for cocaine. The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 102.23 lbs. and the cocaine had a total weight of 5.3 lbs. The total estimated street value was $319,175.

The woman, the vehicle and the narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation. The last two incidents occurred yesterday afternoon. At approximately 3 p.m., a 35-year-old woman approached the checkpoint at Highway 86 in a 2006 Ford Focus.  Agents referred the woman to secondary inspection for a closer examination. After an intensive search, agents found 30-cylinder type bundles underneath the trunk of the vehicle. The packages tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine had a total weight of 32.36 pounds with an estimated street value of $80,912. The last incident happened yesterday evening when a 50-year-old woman approached the Highway 86 checkpoint in a 2010 Toyota Camry. During primary inspection, a K-9 team alerted to the gas tank of the vehicle. Agents referred the woman to secondary for further inspection.

After inspecting the gas tank with a fiber optic scope agents observed multiple objects inside the gas tank. Agents retrieved 28 packages that tested positive for the properties of methamphetamine. The total weight of the combined packages was 42.22 lbs. for an estimated street value of $105,550. The woman, a United States citizen, the vehicle, and the narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.In fiscal year 2017, El Centro Sector has seized more than 1,345.65 pounds of methamphetamine and 482.30 pounds of cocaine.

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 29, 2024