Border Patrol finds over $100,000 of meth in A-C unit

A 39-year old man was arrested Wednesday after attempting to smuggle over 20 pounds of methamphetamine in an air conditioning unit.

According to a spokesman at the El Centro Sector Border Patrol, the incident occurred at approximately 6 p.m., after the suspect approached the checkpoint in a black Ford Fusion and Border Patrol detection canine alerted to the vehicle.

Agents referred the man to the secondary inspection area for a closer examination. After an intensive search, agents discovered a vacuum sealed bundle of methamphetamine hidden inside a gutted air conditioning unit housing.

The methamphetamine weighed 20.27 pounds with an estimated street value of $109,080. The man, a United States Citizen, the vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.

From Oct. 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, El Centro Sector had 11,989 apprehensions and seized more than 1,015 pounds of methamphetamine.