Border Patrol agents seize meth hidden in two vehicles

EAST COUNTY

Border Patrol agents arrested four people and seized more than 128 pounds of methamphetamine tucked into hidden compartments in two vehicles in East County over the weekend, officials said.

The first incident occurred on Friday afternoon when a man with a female passenger drove up to the Pine Valley checkpoint in a 1999 black Toyota 4Runner around 1 p.m.

Agents searched the exterior of the SUV and a dog alerted on the vehicle, indicating there might be drugs inside. When agents went to look at the vehicle’s undercarriage, they found 85 baggies filled with methamphetamine packed inside the spare tire, according to the Border Patrol.

The meth, which weighed just over 86.4 pounds, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Agents arrested the driver, a 22-yearold man, and his 24-year-old female passenger.

In the second incident, two teen boys were arrested around 2 p.m. Sunday at the Pine Valley checkpoint.

A 19-year-old driver stopped at the checkpoint and was referred to secondary inspection for further questioning when a dog indicated drugs might be in the 2016 black Chevrolet Malibu, officials said.

When agents searched the car, they found 40 plastic-wrapped packages inside the vehicle’s gas tank. Officials said the packages contained 41.7 pounds of meth.

The driver and his 18-year-old passenger were arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute.

All four people arrested were U.S. citizens.