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  4. El Centro Sector Border Patrol K-9 Team Sniffs out More Than $288,000 of Narcotics

El Centro Sector Border Patrol K-9 Team Sniffs out More Than $288,000 of Narcotics

Release Date
Fri, 05/09/2014

OCOTILLO, Calif. – Thursday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Station arrested a suspected narcotics smuggler and seized more than 35 pounds of narcotics concealed within the gas tank of a vehicle.

The incident occurred at approximately 8 a.m., when a Border Patrol Canine Detection Team stopped a 24-year-old man driving a 2009 Nissan Sentra near Highway 98 and Coyote Number 1 Rd.  The agent’s K-9 partner alerted to the vehicle's gas tank.

Further inspection of the vehicle’s gas tank revealed 20 vacuum-sealed packages of methamphetamine and heroin hidden inside.  The narcotics had a combined weight of 35.34 pounds with an estimated street value of $288,780. 

The man, a United States citizen, his vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to a task force from the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office 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