SALTON CITY, Calif. – Tuesday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested four suspected drug smugglers riding in two passenger buses, and seized more than 8.6 pounds of methamphetamine combined in two separate incidents.
The first incident, occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m., when Border Patrol agents encountered a passenger bus at the Highway 86 checkpoint.
The agents referred the driver to the secondary inspection area for an immigration check. They encountered three juvenile males between the ages of 16 and 17 traveling together, one with no documents or identification. Through questioning and a safety pat down agents discovered packages of methamphetamine taped to their upper legs. The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 6.59 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $65,900.
The juveniles were U.S. citizens. They and the methamphetamine were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.
The second incident occurred at approximately 11:15 a.m., when Border Patrol agents referred the driver of a passenger to the secondary inspection area at the Highway 86 checkpoint for an immigration check. Agents encountered a 17-year-old male U.S. citizen passenger and discovered two packages of methamphetamine taped to his upper legs.
The methamphetamine had a weight of 2.06 pounds with an estimated street value of $20,600.
The juvenile and methamphetamine were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.