SALTON CITY, Calif. –Saturday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested a pair of suspected drug smugglers at a checkpoint after discovering two packages of methamphetamine hidden in the passengers clothing.
El Centro Sector agents from the Highway 86 checkpoint seized more than 1 pound of methamphetamine concealed inside a bag of luggage located in the vehicle, with an estimated street value of $11,500.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:00 p.m., when Border Patrol agents encountered a 62-year-old male driver, and his 32-year-old female passenger, in a gray 2012 Dodge Caravan at the Highway 86 checkpoint located near Salton City.
Agents referred the driver to the secondary inspection area for further inspection. During the inspection, a canine detection team alerted to the vehicle. The passenger of the vehicle admitted that she was carrying drugs hidden in her clothing. The agents searched the woman and subsequently discovered two packages of methamphetamine.
The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 1.08 pounds with an estimated street value of about $11,500.
The man, a U.S. permanent resident, the woman, a U.S. citizen, were turned over to the custody of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force (HIDTA) for further investigation.
HIDTA seized the vehicle and narcotics.