SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station working at the Highway 86 checkpoint, arrested a man suspected of drug smuggling after they discovered packages of methamphetamine hidden in the seat cushions of his vehicle today.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m., when a 33-year-old man approached the checkpoint driving a 2016 Toyota Avalon.
A Border Patrol detection canine alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary inspection. Agents referred the man to the secondary inspection area for a closer examination.
After an intensive search, agents discovered 44 bundles of methamphetamine wrapped in brown tape hidden in the vehicle’s seat cushions.
The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 60.73 pounds with an estimated street value of $546,570.
The man, a United States citizen, the vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.
In fiscal year 2016, El Centro Sector has seized than 400 pounds of methamphetamine.