INDIO, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested two undocumented individuals attempting to smuggle narcotics in to the interior of the United States, Wednesday evening.
At approximately 6:50 p.m., agents conducting anti-smuggling operations performed a vehicle stop on a red 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee at a gas station off the Dillon exit and Interstate 10. A Border Patrol K-9 detection team assisted in the vehicle stop and alerted to the interior of the vehicle.
Agents inspected the interior of the vehicle and discovered narcotics concealed in factory compartments located underneath the front seats. An in-depth inspection of the narcotics revealed 1.8 kilograms of fentanyl pills with an estimated street value of $55,260.00 and 1.1 kilograms of heroin with an estimated street value of $27,538.00.
The driver, a 27-year-old male, and passenger, a 27-year-old female, both Mexican nationals without the proper documentation to be present in the United States legally, were in placed under arrest and transported to Indio Border Patrol station to be processed accordingly.
The driver and passenger face federal charges.
The driver, passenger, and narcotics were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.
The vehicle will be seized per El Centro Sector guidelines.
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