Three separate incidents lead to seizure of nearly $400,000 in drugs
Threeseparateincidents Wednesday culminated in local border patrol agents seizing nearly $400,000 dollars worth of drugs, including over $300,000 in meth alone.
66.9 lbs. of marijuana seized
At around 4 p.m., a 27-year-old woman was moving through the Highway 86 checkpoint when a K-9 unit alerted officers to search her Ford Explorer. Upon inspection, agents discovered 66.9 lbs. of marijuana stashed in a hidden compartment. The drugs were estimated to have a value of over $53,500.
The woman, a citizen of the United States, was arrested.
The women, vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation.
9 lbs. of methamphetamine seized
A few hours later, atapproximately9 p.m., agents at the same checkpoint were alerted by the K-9 unit to search a Toyota Tercel. During the search, 9 lbs. of methamphetamine were discovered inside a car battery compartment. The drugs were estimated to have a value of over $300,000.
Police arrested the driver, a 21-year-old man, and turned him, along with the drugs, over to the DEA. He is a citizen of the United States.
27 lbs. of marijuana seized
At around 10:30 p.m., U.S. Border Patrol agents saw a man climbing over the US/Mexico border fence east of Calexiconear the East Port of Entry. Agents went to the area and found a 41-year-old Mexican national running alongthe Alamitos Canal bank carrying a duffel bag.
Agents arrested the man and discovered one package of marijuana inside the bag, weighing over 27 pounds and worth more than $22,000.
The man and drugs were turned over to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office.