Agents seize $180K in meth at checkpoint
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents from the Wellton Station assigned to the Interstate 8 Immigration Checkpoint thwarted two unrelated attempts at smuggling methamphetamine valued at $183,750 Friday evening.
In the first of the two incidents, a Border Patrol canine assigned to the primary inspection lane of the checkpoint positively alerted to an odor from a silver 2013 Toyota Camry.
Agents sent the vehicle to the secondary inspection area where they searched the vehicle and found several packages of methamphetamine hidden in the quarter panels and under the floor.
The narcotics weighed approximately 40.6 pounds and had a street value of $121,800.
The female driver of the vehicle, a 19-year-old United States citizen from Yuma, was arrested for the transportation of a controlled substance.
Approximately three hours later, another Border Patrol canine working at the primary lane of the checkpoint alerted to an odor it was trained to detect originating from a gray 2015 Nissan Altima.
Upon further investigation in the secondary inspection area, agents discovered multiple packages of methamphetamine hidden in the gas tank. The narcotics weighed approximately 20.65 pounds and had a street value of $61,950.
The male driver, a 30-year-old United States citizen from Peoria, was arrested for the transportation of a controlled substance.