An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Archived Content
    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. Border Patrol Discovers Meth Stash in Engine Compartment

Border Patrol Discovers Meth Stash in Engine Compartment

Release Date
Mon, 04/03/2017

PINE VALLEY, Calif.—A checkpoint inspection on Sunday evening by U.S. Border Patrol agents led to the arrest of a 19-year-old man who was smuggling bundles of meth inside his SUV’s engine compartment.

Agents pulled 46 bundles of meth from car.
Agents pulled 46 bundles of
meth from SUV.

​At approximately 9 p.m., agents at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 8 near Pine Valley referred a man in a 2008 Nissan Armada for a secondary inspection. Once in secondary, a nearby K-9 alerted to the man’s vehicle. A search of the Armada revealed a non-factory compartment behind the front firewall on the passenger side of the vehicle. Inside were 46 bundles of methamphetamine.

The bundles of methamphetamine weighed 46.84 pounds and were valued at $159,256.

The man was arrested for narcotics smuggling and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the narcotics. The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from our Nation’s borders.  To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.

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 the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021