2 busts yield nearly 79 lbs. of meth
El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents seized more than 78.5 pounds of methamphetamine Thursday in two separate events that occurred within the span of 12 hours, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release stated.
The first incident happened about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, when a man driving a tan Toyota Solara approached the Highway 86 checkpoint near Salton City.
A K-9 team alerted to the vehicle in the primary inspection lane.
Agents directed the vehicle to enter the secondary inspection area for further investigation.
In secondary inspection, agents discovered packages inside the rear quarter panels on both sides of the vehicle.
The contents of the packages tested positive for the characteristics of meth.
The total weight of the meth was 68.04 pounds, with an estimated value of $135,090.
Agents arrested the driver, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, and took him to the detention area for further processing. They eventually turned him, along with the cars and drugs, over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The second incident occurred at approximately 1 a.m. Friday.
Agents working east of the west port of entry in Calexico responded to the report of two individuals who had illegally entered the United States.
During the search, agents noticed an orange construction worker vest on the ground.
Agents grabbed the vest and discovered multiple plastic-wrapped packages inside.
Agents took the abandoned vest and its contents to the Calexico Border Patrol Station for processing.
The packages’ contents tested positive for the characteristics of meth.
The total weight of the meth was 10.58 pounds, with an estimated value of $23,805.
El Centro Sector turned over the drugs to DEA.