Alleged smuggler caught with 59 packages of meth near Salton City

A U.S. citizen suspected of attempting to smuggle 59 packages of methamphetamine through the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint south of Salton City was taken into custody by Border Patrol agents last week.

At 11:55 a.m., a 22-year-old driving a black Toyota Solara approached the checkpoint, where a Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted to the vehicle and waived it along for further inspection. During the secondary search, agents located 59 packages containing a substance with the characteristics of methamphetamine inside the back seat and rocker panels of the sedan.

The suspect's identity and booking photo were not released by Border Patrol.

The total weight of the narcotics found was 63.30 pounds. The drugs have an estimated street value of $118,370.

The man, drugs, and vehicle were turned over to Drug Enforcement Administration custody.