Border Patrol makes $480K drug bust at HWY 86 Checkpoint
El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a Mexican citizen at the HWY 86 checkpoint accused of smuggling nearly $500K worth of narcotics Saturday morning.
The 34-year-old man approached the checkpoint in a red Honda pick-up truck Saturday at 11:25 a.m.
A Border Patrol canine detection team alerted agents to the bed of the pick-up. The man was referred to secondary inspection for a closer inspection of his vehicle.
Border Patrol agents found five packages stuffed inside a secret compartment between the truck’s cab and bed. The contents of the packages tested positive for characteristics of heroin and cocaine.
The total weight of the heroin was 16.2 pounds with an estimated street value of $226,800. The weight of the cocaine totaled 20 pounds with an estimated street value of $260,000.
Agents identified the man as a Mexican citizen. Agents turned him, the vehicle, and narcotics over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.
In fiscal year 2018, El Centro Sector has seized more than 42.55 pounds of heroin and more than 73.24 pounds of cocaine.
