Indio, Calif. - Early this morning, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station interdicted a marijuana smuggling attempt with an estimated value of nearly $140,000.
At approximately 12:40 a.m., a tractor-trailer being driven by a Mexican citizen who was determined to be illegally present in the United States approached the primary inspection lane of the Highway 86 checkpoint. A canine team performed a cursory inspection and alerted to the front end of the trailer. The tractor-trailer was then referred to the secondary inspection area. During a subsequent search, agents discovered several cellophane wrapped packages containing marijuana in hidden within the cargo of spoiled watermelons.
The driver, tractor-trailer, and marijuana were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.