Border Patrol: U.S. woman stopped at border with packages of drugs strapped to her body
Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Originally published 1-25-21
by U.S. Customs and Border Protection:
“SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents seized methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin in two separate smuggling attempts Saturday morning.
The first incident occurred at approximately 8:58 a.m., when a commercial transport passenger van approached the Highway 86 checkpoint. Agents directed the van aside for further immigration investigation of the passengers.
During their inspection, a k-9 team alerted to the vehicle and shortly thereafter agents questioned one of the passengers who admitted to having two packages of suspected narcotics taped to her body. One package tested positive for the characteristics of fentanyl and the other package tested positive for the characteristics of heroin. Agents arrested the woman, a 20-year-old legal permanent resident from Mexico and held her for further processing.
The total weight of the fentanyl was approximately 2.53 pounds with an estimated value of $28,500 and the total weight of the heroin was approximately 2.77 pounds with an estimated value of $28,750.
The El Centro Sector turned over the woman and narcotics to the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The transport van, driver and remaining passengers were released with no further incident.
The second incident occurred at approximately 10 a.m., when a commercial transport passenger bus approached the Highway 86 checkpoint. Agents directed the bus aside for further investigation.
During their inspection, a k-9 team alerted to a black suitcase in the luggage compartment of the bus. Agents questioned the passengers to which no one claimed the property. Agents discovered 92 vacuum-sealed packages of suspected narcotics inside of the luggage. The packages tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine. Agents determined that the luggage was abandoned property and seized it for further processing.
The total weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 51.62 pounds with an estimated value of $116,145.”
