Million Dollar Meth Bust

El Centro Border Patrol agents in Indio arrested a suspected narcotics smuggler at the Highway 86 checkpoint today when they discovered approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine in his vehicle.

At 7 a.m. this morning Border Patrol agents stopped a 26-year-old male driver at a checkpoint located between Westmorland and Salton City. When canine dogs began to sniff the vehicle, a 1999 Volkswagen Golf, the agents discovered 18 pounds of methamphetamine and eventually decided to move the vehicle to a secondary search area. The agents discovered a total of twenty-nine packages of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle totaling approximately 30 pounds.

The methamphetamine has an estimated street value of over $980,000.

The man, a citizen of Mexico and Lawfully Admitted Permanent Residence card holder, was arrested as the sole suspect in the case. The suspect, vehicle, and drugs were all turned over to the DEA for further investigation.