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  4. El Centro Sector Border Patrol Busts Woman Attempting to Smuggle Meth in Cooler

El Centro Sector Border Patrol Busts Woman Attempting to Smuggle Meth in Cooler

Release Date
Thu, 07/03/2014

SALTON CITY, Calif. – On Thursday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested a suspected narcotics smuggler with 15.5 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within the liner of an ice cooler.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m., when Border Patrol agents encountered a 49-year-old woman driving a Buick Regal as she approached the Highway 86 checkpoint. 

A Border Patrol Canine Detection team alerted to the vehicle and the woman was referred to secondary for further inspection.  During the inspection, agents discovered six vacuum sealed packages of methamphetamine hidden within the liner of an ice cooler.

The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 15.5 pounds with an estimated street value of $297,600.

The suspected smuggler, a United States citizen, was taken into custody.  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