SALTON CITY – El Centro Border Patrol Agents encountered two female suspected methamphetamine-smugglers.
At approximately 8:30 PM last Friday, a passenger bus approached agents working at the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint. A secondary inspection was required for immigration inspection of the passengers.
As a matter of course, the Border Patrol Canine Detection Team pitched in. They immediately alerted to two unclaimed luggage bags in the overhead compartment.
Agents found 31 small packages wrapped in cellophane. Tests of the contents resulted in material consistent with the characteristics of methamphetamine.
The 10.4 pounds of illegal narcotics had an estimated street value of $27,560. Investigators located and arrested the two perpetrators: two Mexican nationals, ages 19 and 16.
As a result, the meth and the pair of thwarted couriers were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between official ports of entry,” said Border Security/U.S. Border Patrol on 2/20/19. “CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.”
Over 1,096 pounds of methamphetamine amounting to over $2.5 million have been seized by El Centro Sector Agents in the fiscal year 2019
