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El Centro Sector Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth and Heroin from SUV

Release Date
Tue, 07/15/2014

SALTON CITY, Calif. – On Monday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested a suspected narcotics smuggler with 9.6 pounds combined weight of methamphetamine and heroin concealed within the engine manifold of the vehicle.

Nine pounds of methamphetamine and heroin located within the engine manifold.

On Saturday, Border Patrol agents discovered approximately eight pounds of cocaine hidden within the engine manifold with a street value of $105,690.

The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m., when Border Patrol agents encountered a 44-year-old man driving a 1998 Isuzu Rodeo at the Highway 86 checkpoint. 

The man was referred to secondary inspection for further investigation.  During the inspection, agents discovered four small packages of methamphetamine and two packages of heroin hidden within the engine of the vehicle.

The methamphetamine and heroin had a combined weight of 9.6 pounds with an estimated street value of $78,555.

On Saturday, Border Patrol agents at the checkpoint also discovered approximately eight pounds of cocaine hidden within the engine manifold with the street value of $105,690.

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.

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