SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a United States citizen attempting to smuggle narcotics through an immigration checkpoint, early Friday morning.
seven packages of fentanyl pills.
At approximately 3:45 a.m., a blue 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe approached the Highway 86 checkpoint. The agent inspecting vehicles in the primary lanes referred the vehicle to secondary inspection.
A Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted to the vehicle. Agents inspected the interior of the vehicle and discovered narcotics concealed in the floorboard area. An in-depth inspection revealed 40 packages containing a white crystal-like substance that tested positive for methamphetamine and seven packages of pills that tested positive for fentanyl.
The 28-year-old male driver was in possession of 61.62 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $215,670 and 5.29 pounds of fentanyl pills with an estimated street value of $84,000.
The subject, vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.