Three Drug Busts in 12 Hours Near Salton Sea
Last updated 7/30/2015 at 1:24pm
Three separate drug-smuggling arrests occurred at the Highway 86 checkpoint on Saturday. The incidents occurred within 12 hours but were unrelated, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. The three men were identified as a 39 year-old Mexican citizen, a 51 year-old Mexican citizen with a valid permanent resident card, and a 30 year-old U.S. citizen. In the first incident around 12:20 a.m., a Toyota Highlander was discovered to have 30 packages of methamphetamine with a small amount of heroin in the gas tank worth $349,000. At 8:00 a.m. a Mazda Protege attempted to get through with 19 packages of meth, heroin and cocaine hidden in its bumpers worth $420,790. Then around 12:30 p.m. two bundles of black tar heroin worth $58,800 were discovered in the engine oil pan of a Chevrolet Malibu. The suspects and drugs were all turned over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Drug smuggling incidents at this checkpoint are becoming more and more frequent.
