Border Patrol agents find heroin, meth stashed in Mercedes Benz

On Monday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested a suspected drug smuggler at the Highway 86 checkpoint after discovering an aftermarket compartment inside the intake manifold containing narcotics.

The incident occurred at about 1p.m. when Border Patrol agents encountered a 29-year-old man driving a silver 2001 Mercedes Benz at the checkpoint.

A Border Patrol Canine Detection team alerted agents to the vehicle. After investigating, agents discovered an aftermarket compartment inside the intake manifold containing packages of heroin and methamphetamine.

Agents said the heroin weighed 6.41 lbs. and was estimated to cost more than $76,500. The methamphetamine weighed 14.31 lbs. and is estimated to cost more than $143,000.

The suspected drug smuggler is a U.S. citizen. The car and drugs were turned over to the DEA for further investigation, according to the Border Patrol’s release.