Bus Check Results in Cocaine Seizure at Highway 86 Checkpoint

Salton City, Calif. – On August 3, U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio station seized a substantial amount of cocaine from a commercial bus passenger at the Highway 86 Checkpoint.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m., when a Border Patrol canine team alerted to the possible presence of narcotics in the luggage area of a commercial passenger bus. After performing a thorough search, agents discovered a cooler containing several fish and approximately 6 pounds of cocaine. The occupants of the bus were questioned in regards to the ownership of the cooler and a 20-year-old U.S. citizen confessed to agents that it belonged to her. The cocaine had an estimated street value of more than $188,000.

The suspect and narcotics 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 the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.