Drug Haul Intercepted By Border Patrol Agents Near Salton Sea: CBP

Palm Desert CA

27 April, 2022

7:42 PM

Description

SALTON SEA, CA — A U.S. citizen suspected of smuggling narcotics was arrested the week at the immigration checkpoint along Highway 86 near the Salton Sea, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release. At approximately 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, a red 2008 Jeep Patriot approached the checkpoint, and El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents referred the driver to a secondary inspection. During a search, a Border Patrol K-9 team alerted agents to the Jeep's rear cargo area. Using x-ray technology, agents spotted "several anomalies" in the vehicle's quarter panels. When agents checked further, they found 57 packages — 52 of them contained methamphetamine and five tested positive for heroin, according to the news release. In total, 31.5 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $242,900, and 6.2 kilograms of heroin with an estimated street value of $111,780 were seized by the agents, the news release stated. The 19-year-old male driver, along with the Jeep and the drugs, were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The man's identity was not released.