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 his vehicle on Tuesday.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m., when a 25-year-old man approached the checkpoint driving a silver Honda Accord.
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 packages of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle’s door panels.
The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 23.78 pounds with an estimated street value of $214,020.
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 500 pounds of methamphetamine.