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  4. Man Arrested Attempting to Conceal Narcotics in Spare Tires & Transport Through a Checkpoint

Man Arrested Attempting to Conceal Narcotics in Spare Tires & Transport Through a Checkpoint

Release Date
Tue, 04/05/2022

SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a United States citizen attempting to smuggle narcotics through an immigration checkpoint Saturday morning. 

At approximately 8:40 a.m., a blue 2007 Chevrolet Silverado approached the Highway 86 checkpoint. The agent inspecting vehicles in the primary lanes referred the vehicle to secondary inspection.

A Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted to the vehicle. Agents inspected the interior and exterior of the vehicle and discovered four spare tires located in the bed of the truck. An in-depth inspection of the tires revealed 42 packages containing a white-crystal like substance and 15 packages containing a white powder attempted to be concealed inside two of the tires, a common trend associated with narcotic smuggling. The 42 packages of white crystal-like substance tested positive for methamphetamine, and the 15 packages of white powder tested positive for fentanyl.

The 31-year-old male driver was in possession of 57.3 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $126,060 and 39.2 pounds of fentanyl with an estimated street value of $689,920.

The driver, vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. For all news, information, and updates follow us on Twitter @CBPElCentro, @USBPChiefELC and Instagram.
 

Last Modified: Apr 05, 2022