SALTON SEA, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents seized methamphetamine Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:20 p.m., when a man driving a gray Ford Explorer approached the Highway 86 checkpoint. A Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted to the vehicle in the primary inspection lane. Agents directed the vehicle to enter the secondary inspection area for further investigation.
During their inspection, agents discovered four packages of suspected narcotics hidden inside of two car battery boosters and two power converters located inside the vehicle. The contents hidden inside contained plastic-wrapped packages that tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine. Agents arrested the driver and held him for further processing.
The total weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 15.8 pounds with an estimated value of $35,550.
El Centro Sector turned over the driver, a 30-year-old United States citizen, the vehicle and the narcotics to U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration.