Salton City, CA–El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents working at the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint arrested a man suspected of smuggling heroin Thursday morning.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:50 a.m., when a 28-year-old man approached the checkpoint as one of multiple passengers aboard a commercial bus. Agents sent the bus aside to secondary for immigration inspection.
While in secondary inspection, Border Patrol agents discovered a package he attempted to conceal under his clothing. Agents examined the package and determined that the content was consistent with the characteristics of heroin.
The total weight of the heroin discovered was 4.470 pounds, with an estimated street value of $56,000.
The man, a United States citizen, and the narcotics were turned over to Drug Enforcement Administration.