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Border Patrol Busts Cocaine Smuggler

Release Date
Fri, 05/22/2020

SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents working at the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint arrested a man suspected of smuggling illegal narcotics Thursday evening.

While in secondary inspection, Border Patrol agents discovered 10 cellophane wrapped packages inside an ice chest located in the sleeper area of the tractor-trailer. The incident occurred at approximately 9:55 p.m., when a 31-year-old man driving a gray tractor-trailer approached the checkpoint.  A Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted to the tractor-trailer.  Agents sent the tractor-trailer to secondary inspection for further investigation.

While in secondary inspection, Border Patrol agents discovered 10 cellophane wrapped packages inside an ice chest located in the sleeper area of the tractor-trailer.  Agents determined that the packages contained a substance that was consistent with the characteristics of cocaine.

The total weight of the narcotics discovered was 24.54 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of $278,250.

The man, a Mexican national, the narcotics and tractor-trailer were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021