SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a United States citizen accused of smuggling fentanyl through an immigration checkpoint Thursday morning.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m., when a Mecca Tour Van approached the Highway 86 checkpoint. The primary agent inspecting vehicles referred the van to secondary inspection for further investigation.
A Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted to the interior of the vehicle. Agents proceeded to inspect the interior of the vehicle and spoke with all the passengers of the tour van. While interviewing the passengers, agents noticed that one of them appeared to be concealing items around his upper thighs.
The agents that conducted a pat down of this individual discovered the packages, and the individual readily admitted to having pills strapped to his body. Two packages, both wrapped in cellophane and black electrical tape, were removed from his person. The contents inside the packages tested positive for fentanyl.
The passenger, a 27-year-old male, was caught with 2.58 pounds of fentanyl.
The passenger and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.