Border Patrol arrest man suspected of attempting to smuggle 56 lbs of meth in his gas tank
El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a man near Salton City on suspicion of drug smuggling on Wednesday morning.
The man, who has not been identified, was stopped just before 6.a.m at a checkpoint and referred along to secondary inspection. During the second inspection, a canine detection team was drawn to the bed of the truck. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed 35 wrapped bundles of methamphetamine in the truck’s fuel tank.
“This seizure highlights the tireless efforts our Border Patrol agents demonstrate in keeping these dangerous drugs out of our community,” said Assistant Chief Patrol Agent David S. Kim.
The total weight of the methamphetamine was 56 pounds and has an estimated value of $184,800. The suspect, a U.S. citizen, was transported to a Border Patrol station for processing.
After processing, the man, his truck, and the narcotics were turned over Drug Enforcement Administration agents.
El Centro Sector Border Patrol has seized more than 650 pounds of methamphetamine in the 2018 fiscal year.
