Salton City, CA–El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a United States citizen accused of smuggling methamphetamine through an immigration checkpoint Saturday morning.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:05 a.m., when a blue 2005 Ford Escape approached the Highway 86 checkpoint. The agent checking vehicles in the lanes referred the vehicle aside for further investigation.
A Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted both the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle. Upon further inspection of these areas, agents discovered a hidden compartment in the floorboard of the vehicle concealing 41 packages of a white crystal-like substance wrapped in cellophane. The contents inside the packages tested positive for methamphetamine.
The driver, a 55-year-old male, was caught with 78.41 pounds of methamphetamine, with an estimated value of $215,627.00.
The individual, vehicle, and narcotics were later turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
