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  4. El Centro Sector Border Patrol Agents Seize Narcotics at Highway 86 Checkpoint

El Centro Sector Border Patrol Agents Seize Narcotics at Highway 86 Checkpoint

Release Date
Wed, 12/03/2014

SALTON CITY, Calif. – On Monday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested a suspected female drug smuggler at the Highway 86 checkpoint after discovering fourteen hidden packages of drugs in an aftermarket compartment located in the trunk area.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:50 p.m., when Border Patrol agents encountered a 21-year-old female driver of a 1999 Jetta Volkswagen as it approached the checkpoint. 

A Border Patrol Canine Detection Team alerted to the vehicle.  Border Patrol agents referred the driver to secondary for further examination.  Agents subsequently discovered three packages of heroin and eleven packages of methamphetamine inside the vehicle.

The heroin had a combined weight of 1.73 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $20,700 and the methamphetamine had a combined weight of 5.89 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $58,800.

The woman, 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