$1.4 million worth of meth discovered in field north of Calexico
Ultralight aircraft on cross-border incursion leads el Centro Sector Border Patrol agents to discover over $1.4 million worth of methamphetamine north of Calexico.
According to border patrol, at around 12:10 a.m. Sunday, agents saw an ultralight aircraft fly over the international border from Mexico into U.S. airspace. Agents said the aircraft was flying without any lights on. Agents were able to track the aircraft’s route and saw it descend just north of Calexico before gaining altitude and flying back towards Mexico.
In the area where the aircraft descended, agents found two brown zippered bags lying under heavy brush, a metallic cage and a bicycle in the agricultural field where the aircraft was observed to have dropped in altitude.
Agents also arrested two people they found in the area. They are suspected of suspicion receiving the dropped narcotics.
At the station, agents unpacked 60 duct taped bundles containing white powder-like substance inside of the two zippered bags that tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine. The combined weight of the packages totaled 129.33 lbs., with an estimated value of $1,422,553.
“The invaluable coordination among CBP components led to the tracking of an ultralight aircraft which resulted in the interdiction of narcotics and arrest of individuals,” said Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. “Ultralight aircraft not only pose a threat to legitimate air traffic in the vicinity, but also to national security. These aircraft are able to carry small payloads of dangerous cargo or dangerous people.”
Both subjects and the narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.
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Noticias en español: Telemundo 15
