Driver Turned Over To DEA After 7 Lbs. Of Cocaine Found In Trunk: USBP

SALTON SEA, CA — A 25-year-old Mexican citizen was turned over to authorities after he was allegedly found in the desert with approximately 7 pounds of cocaine in his vehicle trunk, the U.S. Border Patrol announced Monday.

The man, whose identity was not released, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration after he was flagged by Border Patrol agents shortly before 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Highway 86 Border Patrol checkpoint.

The agents questioned the man and requested to search the trunk of the silver sedan he was driving, according to the USBP.

Inside the trunk, agents spotted a plastic grocery bag containing three cellophane-wrapped packages. Agents tested the contents and confirmed it was cocaine; the drug's total weight was 7.16 pounds with an estimated value of $78,000, the federal agency said.

In addition to the driver, the narcotics were turned over to the DEA for further processing and investigation.