El Centro Sector Border Patrol Agents Seize Narcotics Valued at More than $2.55 Million

Salton Sea, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio station arrested two suspected smugglers on February 24, with over $2.55 million worth of illegal narcotics. 

The first incident occurred at 4:50 p.m., after a Border Patrol canine team performing a cursory search alerted to a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu occupied by a 40-year-old female Mexican national at the Highway 86 Border Patrol Checkpoint near Salton Sea. Agents later conducted a thorough inspection which revealed a hidden compartment with 11 packages of cocaine. The cocaine weighed approximately 27 pounds and had a street value of approximately $880,000.

Later that evening at approximately 10:45 p.m., a Border Patrol canine team alerted to a 2004 Honda Accord occupied by a 42-year-old male Mexican national, his adult son and juvenile daughter. After further inspection, agents discovered 42 vacuum sealed packages of methamphetamine hidden throughout several non-factory compartments. The narcotics weighed approximately 52 pounds and had a street value of more than $1.67 million.

Both suspects were arrested and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the vehicles and narcotics.

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.