Bus Check Results in Cocaine Seizure at Highway 86 Checkpoint

Salton City, Calif. - On August 3, U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio station seized a substantial amount of cocaine from a commercial bus passenger at the Highway 86 Checkpoint.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m., when a Border Patrol canine team alerted to the possible presence of narcotics in the luggage area of a commercial passenger bus. After performing a thorough search, agents discovered a cooler containing several fish and approximately 6 pounds of cocaine. The occupants of the bus were questioned in regards to the ownership of the cooler and a 20-year-old U.S. citizen confessed to agents that it belonged to her. The cocaine had an estimated street value of more than $188,000.

The suspect and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.