Border Patrol busts man with 50 lbs. of meth in car

A man was busted by Border Patrol agents at the Highway 86 checkpoint Thursday morning after authorities found just over 50 lbs. of methamphetamine hidden in his car.

The 24-year-old man was driving a Dodge Avenger when he was stopped at the checkpoint around 10 a.m., agents said in a release.

Agents searched the man’s car after a canine detection team alerted them. After extensively searching the car, authorities said they found 34 packages of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle’s rocker panels.

The narcotics weighed 50.57 lbs. and is valued at more than $505,000.

Border Patrol agents said the man was a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States. The Drug Enforcement Agency took custody of him, the car and the methamphetamine.

The D.E.A. continues to investigate the suspected drug smuggling attempt.

Agents said in the last fiscal year, El Centro Sector Border Patrol seized more than 445 lbs. of methamphetamine.