Over 100 pounds of meth seized

A 39-year-old woman was arrested Monday morning for allegedly attempting to smuggle over 100 pounds of methamphetamine inside her vehicle’s fuel tank while traveling through the West port of entry.

Raychell L. Fletcher, city of residence undisclosed, was taken into custody at 11 a.m. Monday by Homeland Security Investigations agents and booked into county jail on suspicion of unlawful importation of a controlled substance, county Sheriff’s Office arrest record stated.

According to a federal court complaint, Fletcher attempted to cross into the U.S. through the port of entry Monday morning while driving a 1999 Volvo S70.

While attempting to cross, Fletcher advised a Customs and Border Protection officer she had traveled to Mexico to go sightseeing for two days.

A CBP officer noticed there was no luggage in back seats of Fletcher’s vehicle and that the Volvo was not registered to Fletcher.

Fletcher was subsequently refered to secondary inspection, during which time anomalies in the vehicle’s gas tank was noticed through an X-ray scan.

A narcotics-detecting canine was requested and alerted to the vehicle.

Upon further inspection, CBP officers removed the Volvo’s fuel pump cover and noticed the fuel pump appeared to have recently been tampered with.

The fuel tank was removed and, while draining the fuel, CBP officers noted that the fuel began changing colors.

CBP officers conducted a field test of the liquid, which field tested positive for the properties of meth.

A total of approximately 116.93 pounds of suspected meth was recovered from the vehicle’s fuel tank.