SALTON CITY, CALIF.—On Wednesday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested a suspected narcotics smuggler and seized more than 39 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a compartment within his vehicle.
The incident occurred at approximately 5 a.m., when Border Patrol agents encountered a 41-year-old male driving a dark gray 2007 Ford F-150 pick-up truck as he approached the Highway 86 checkpoint located between Westmorland and Salton City. A Border Patrol Canine Detection team alerted to the vehicle and referred the driver to secondary for further inspection. During the inspection agents discovered 11 packages of methamphetamines hidden inside two compartments that had been built into the pick-up's bed.
The methamphetamines had a combined weight of 39.4 pounds with an estimated street value of $1,260,860.
The suspected smuggler, a United States citizen, was taken into custody. The man, vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.