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  4. El Centro Sector Border Patrol Agents Seize more than 20 Pounds of Methamphetamine at Checkpoint

El Centro Sector Border Patrol Agents Seize more than 20 Pounds of Methamphetamine at Checkpoint

Release Date
Fri, 10/31/2014

SALTON CITY, Calif. –Thursday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested a suspected drug smuggler after discovering packages of methamphetamine hidden inside a backpack stored in the rear of the vehicle.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m., when Border Patrol agents encountered a family of five in a white 2014 Dodge Journey at the Highway 86 checkpoint located near Salton City.  The vehicle occupants included a male driver and a female passenger, both Mexican citizens, and their three children ages 3, 6, and 13, who are United States citizens.

After a Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the vehicle, agents referred the driver to the secondary inspection area for further investigation.  The agents subsequently discovered a backpack stored in the rear of the vehicle containing packages of methamphetamine.

The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 22.2 pounds with an estimated street value of about $220,000.

The driver and the narcotics were turned over to the custody of Drug Enforcement Administration agents 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