IMPERIAL, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents in coordination with a joint task force of various law enforcement agencies seized over 1.56 million worth of narcotics in three separate events over the weekend.
The first incident occurred on Friday afternoon, at approximately 12:13 p.m., when a joint task force obtained a warrant and searched a vehicle suspected of narcotic smuggling.
A Border Patrol K-9 detection team called to assist in the search alerted to the vehicle. Agents inspected the interior of the vehicle and discovered 540 vacuum sealed packages containing a white crystal-like substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. There was a total of 517.8 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $1,139,160.
The second incident occurred on Saturday at approximately 6 a.m., when agents conducting traffic check operations performed a vehicle stop on a dark green 2014 Fiat 500 off the Cactus City Rest Area and Interstate 10.
A Border Patrol K-9 detection team assisted in the stop and alerted to the vehicle. Agents searched the interior and discovered a plastic bag along with a camouflage backpack that contained 11 packages wrapped in brown tape, a common trend in narcotic smuggling. The packages contained a white powdery substance that tested positive for fentanyl. Agents discovered 24.6 pounds of fentanyl with an estimated street value of $295,200.
The narcotics, and paraphernalia were turned over to the Riverside County High Intensity Drug Traffic Area Narcotics Taskforce.
The third incident occurred on Monday at approximately 4:50 a.m., when a red 2005 Ford Ranger approached the Highway 86 immigration 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 vehicle and discovered the floorboard of the bed to abnormally higher than usual. Further inspection of the bed revealed a compartment concealing silver packages. The packages contained a white crystal-like substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. The 29-year-old male driver was in possession of 60 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $132,000.
The man, vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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