YUMA, Ariz. – Wellton Station Border Patrol agents working near the Interstate 8 immigration checkpoint arrested one United States citizen and four illegal aliens from Mexico after they attempted to smuggle over 30 pounds of methamphetamine into the United States Wednesday.
At approximately 5:30 p.m., agents observed four individuals exiting the desert east of Tacna along Interstate 8. A short time later, the individuals loaded up into a gray 2009 Nissan Altima and traveled eastbound along the interstate. Agents performed an immigration stop on the vehicle and encountered a 25-year-old male U.S. citizen driver from Mesa. The four passengers in the vehicle were identified as illegal aliens from Mexico. Agents also discovered a pair of backpacks inside of the vehicle containing 30.4 pounds of crystallized methamphetamine. The narcotics have an approximate street value of $91,200.
The five subjects were arrested for the transportation of a controlled substance. The four illegal aliens were also processed for immigrations violations.