Agents seize drugs, gun and stolen car

El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents seized methamphetamine, marijuana and a loaded weapon from a stolen vehicle Friday evening, U.S. Customs and Protection reported in a release.

The incident occurred about 6:55 p.m., when a man driving a silver Jeep Cherokee approached the Highway 86 checkpoint. After a K-9 team alerted to the vehicle as it waited in the traffic lane, agents directed the vehicle aside for further investigation.

During their inspection, agents discovered a loaded weapon along with marijuana inside of a bag located in the rear seat of the vehicle. Agents also discovered drug paraphernalia consisting of two glass pipes, a hypodermic needle and a small digital scale inside the center console of the vehicle. Additionally, the Jeep had been reported stolen out of San Diego. Agents arrested the driver and held him for further processing.

During a search of the driver, agents discovered a bag of suspected drugs inside his pockets that turned out to be methamphetamine. Records checks revealed that the 35-year-old U.S. citizen has an extensive criminal history with multiple felony convictions, the CBP release said.

The meth reportedly weighed 4.61 grams, with an estimated value of $230. The weight of the marijuana was 5.61 grams with an estimated value of $140.

El Centro Sector turned over the driver, the meth, the firearm with ammunition and the stolen vehicle to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office.