Border Patrol seizes $259K of meth stashed in fuel tank

Border Patrol agents with the Indio Station arrested a suspected drug smuggler after discovering packages of methamphetamine stashed in the fuel tank of his pickup truck Friday morning.

According to authorities, the 21-year-old U.S. citizen was approaching the Highway 86 checkpoint near Salton City around 7:30 a.m. when a Border Patrol canine detected something near the back of the truck.

While inspecting the vehicle, agents said they found 35 packages of meth hidden in the fuel tank. The methamphetamine weighed 35.40 lbs. and has an estimated street value of over $259,000.

The man and narcotics were turned over to the DEA as the investigation continues.