Another man busted smuggling heroin in shoes

It’s become a common encounter lately for Border Patrol agents; men trying to hide heroin in the soles of their shoes.

On Wednesday, April 23, a 20-year-old man was arrested at the Highway 86 checkpoint after agents found 2.04 lbs. of heroin stashed in his loafers.

Now, a second man has been arrested for the same offense at the same checkpoint, with close to the same amount of heroin.

Border Patrol officials said the latest arrest came on Monday, May 5, after a 43-year-old man was stopped between Westmorland and Salton City around 1:30 p.m.

He was driving with a female passenger and her two grandchildren.

After a secondary inspection, agents discovered the man had two wrapped packages of heroin hidden in his shoes. They said the narcotics weighed 2.31 lbs. and are estimated at $27,720.

The suspect and the heroin are now in the hands of the DEA for further investigation.

Officials with Border Patrol said the female passenger and her two grandchildren were released.