US Border Patrol Intercepts $1M Fentanyl Haul In CA Desert

INDIO, CA — Two teens, who were allegedly driving across the California desert with 100 pounds of fentanyl in their gas tank, were arrested this week after U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the federal agency's Indio Station pulled them over and discovered the narcotics.

The bust came around 11:30 a.m. Monday after the agents spotted a speeding black Nissan Armada on eastbound Interstate 10.

Agents tailed the vehicle for about 12 miles as the driver tried to lose them, swerving in and out of traffic lanes, according to the USBP.

The driver finally pulled over near the Rice Road exit in Desert Center. The motorist and passenger told agents they were on their way to Arizona to visit family, but when questioned separately for details the duo gave conflicting stories about their travel plans, the USBP reported.

Agents grew more suspicious, so a K-9 unit was requested for a vehicle search. Once the dog started working, the animal alerted agents to the Nissan's back seat.

Upon further inspection, agents noticed anomalies on the floorboard, which led them to find 60 plastic-wrapped packages floating in the vehicle's gas tank. The packages contained 99.5 pounds of fentanyl pills with an estimated value of $1,128,500, the federal agency said.

The driver, an 18-year-old Mexican citizen, and passenger, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, along with the vehicle and narcotics, were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further processing and investigation.