Crime & Safety
Driver Tries Smuggling 115 Pounds Of Meth Through Desert: CBP
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says it caught up with the suspect at the Highway 86 checkpoint near the Salton Sea.
INDIO, CA — A U.S. citizen arrested near the Salton Sea on Monday by U.S. Border Patrol agents is accused of smuggling more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine.
The suspect, whose identity was not released, was taken into custody shortly before noon at the Highway 86 Border Patrol checkpoint.
According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release, the suspect was driving a sedan. At the checkpoint, the car was flagged for a secondary inspection, which is when a K-9 alerted agents to the vehicle's floorboards.
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A closer look uncovered "an aftermarket compartment that contained several wrapped packages that had characteristics of narcotics smuggling. One of the packages was opened and tested positive for methamphetamine," according to the CBP news release.
A total of 114.5 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $96,942 was removed from the vehicle, the agency said.
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The driver was arrested on suspicion of transporting a controlled substance.
The driver, vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the CBP.
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