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

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.