SALTON CITY: El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station working at the Highway 86 checkpoint, arrested a woman suspected of drug smuggling after they discovered packages of methamphetamine hidden in her vehicle today.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m., when a 31-year-old woman approached the checkpoint driving a 2004 white Chevrolet Malibu.
A Border Patrol detection canine alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary inspection. Agents referred the woman to the secondary inspection area for a closer examination. After an intensive search, agents discovered 27 bundles of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle’s door panels.
The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 29.68 pounds with an estimated street value of $296,800.
The woman, a Mexican national, the vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.
In fiscal year 2016, El Centro Sector has seized than 500 pounds of methamphetamine.
