Border Patrol makes two drug busts over weekend

El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents over the weekend made two drug busts, one of which occurred at the Highway 86 checkpoint and the other during a traffic stop, a Customs and Border Protection release announced.

The first incident occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Friday when a woman, described as a 34-year-old U.S. citizen, approached the Highway 86 checkpoint in a red Dodge Caliber.

During pre-primary inspection, a canine detection team alerted to the vehicle. Agents referred the Dodge to secondary for further inspection.

At secondary inspection, a search of the vehicle revealed 50 packages hidden in the floorboards containing a white crystal substance. The packages were tested and proved positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine.

The packages weighed approximately 51.36 pounds and had an estimated street value of $136,104.

The woman, vehicle and drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.

The second incident occurred at approximately 7:45 a.m. Sunday when agents conducted a vehicle stop at an undisclosed location involving a white Nissan Pathfinder with one male driver.

During a pat-down, agents discovered a white crystal substance in the subject’s pocket. The man informed agents the substance was meth intended for personal use.

Furthermore, the man informed agents other narcotics were concealed inside his rectum. The man was transported to a local hospital where the narcotics were safely removed.

The narcotics were tested and proved positive for the characteristics of meth and heroin.

The meth totaled 9 grams, while the heroin totaled 11 grams, with a combined street value of $715.

The man, a 39-year-old U.S. citizen, vehicle and drugs were turned over to Imperial County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation.

In fiscal year 2018, El Centro Sector agents have seized more than 1,127 pounds of methamphetamine, amounting to more than $2.9 million.