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  4. Border Patrol Discovers Methamphetamine in Truck’s Gas Tank

Border Patrol Discovers Methamphetamine in Truck’s Gas Tank

Release Date
Fri, 07/21/2017

SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents working at the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint arrested a man suspected of smuggling methamphetamine Friday morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 9 a.m. when a 48-year-old man driving a white 2006 Ford Ranger approached the checkpoint. A Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the vehicle. Agents send the vehicle to secondary inspection for a more thorough examination.

Agents pulled 42 lbs. of meth from truck’s gas tank.
Agents pulled 42 lbs. of meth
from truck’s gas tank.

At secondary inspection, Border Patrol agents further inspected the vehicle and discovered 12 packages hidden inside the truck’s gas tank.

The contents of the packages were examined and tested positive for methamphetamine.

The total weight of the methamphetamine was 42.03 pounds with an estimated street value of $134,496.

The man was determined to be a Lawfully Permitted Legal Resident and was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency along with the vehicle and narcotics.

A vehicle's gas tank is a common location used by drug smugglers to hide their drugs.

Since fiscal year 2017, which started Oct. 1, 2016, the El Centro Sector has seized more than 1,076 pounds of methamphetamine.

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