Man suspected of smuggling cocaine with step children in car

Border Patrol agents arrested a 21-year-old man suspected of smuggling cocaine on Friday afternoon at the Highway 86 checkpoint. Child protective services was called because the man had his tree minor step children in the car with him at the time, according to El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents.

The man is from the United States and agents said they stopped him at the checkpoint at about 4:30 p.m. after a canine alerted agents to his car.

Agents found 24 plastic-wrapped packages of cocaine stashed inside hidden compartments in the floor of the car. The cocaine weighed 56.54 pounds and is estimated to be worth $678,480 on the street. The man and the narcotics are now in the custody of the Drug Enforcement Agency.

“Drug smuggling organizations will go to no ends to affirm their criminal intent,” said David S. Kim, Assistant Chief Patrol Agent. “I commend our agents for the hard work and dedication to keep our communities safe.”

The man’s step children, ages 10, 7 and 6, were taken into protective custody by Imperial County Child Protective Services.

Border Patrol agents said since Oct. 1, 2016, El Centro Sector has seized more than 321.37 pounds of cocaine.