Border Patrol agents find $130K worth of Fentanyl pills at Highway 86 checkpoint

A passenger in a ride-share taxi cab was arrested after Border Patrol agents discovered approximately $130,000 worth of fentanyl pills at the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint on Wednesday.

According to the agency, the incident occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. That's when a ride-share taxi driver with four passengers entered the inspection area of the U.S. Border Patrol immigration checkpoint on Highway 86.  

The agent in the primary inspection area referred the vehicle for further investigation. In the secondary area, a K-9 team asked for consent to search the vehicle from the driver and was granted permission. The K-9 alerted to the trunk area of the vehicle. The trunk was opened, and agents found several bags inside.

The K-9 alerted to a backpack and a speaker that belonged to an individual who claimed them as his property. 

Agents searched the speaker and backpack, which resulted in the discovery of several wrapped packages consistent with wrapping commonly used to transport illegal narcotics. A sample was taken from one of the packages and was positive for the presence of fentanyl. 

The total weight of the fentanyl was 9.7 pounds with an estimated street value of $130,000. 

The passenger, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the narcotics. 

This seizure is part of Operation Apollo. Operation Apollo is a joint regional operation comprised of federal, state, and local agencies working to combat the threat from fentanyl, and other illicit synthetic narcotics.

More information about Operation Apollo can be found here.