Two Men Arrested
Last updated 1/6/2022 at 11:02am
El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested two individuals for attempting to smuggle illegal narcotics through an immigration checkpoint on Dec. 18.
At approximately 7:30 p.m., a black 2006 Mazda 6 station wagon approached the Highway 86 checkpoint. The agent inspecting vehicles in primary lanes referred the vehicle to secondary inspection for further investigation.
A Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted to the interior of the vehicle.
Upon further inspection of the interior, agents discovered two bundles wrapped in cellophane inside of an ice chest, a type of concealment method consistent with narcotic smuggling. The two large bundles contained five separate packages of narcotics in plastic bags. Three of the five bags tested positive for fentanyl and the other two bags tested positive for heroin. Further inspection of the vehicle also revealed marijuana concealed in the roof area of a sunroof compartment and methamphetamine inside the trousers of the passenger.
The 33-year-old male driver and 39-year-old male passenger were in possession of .68 pounds of fentanyl (approximately 3000 pills) with an estimated street value of $46,410, 4.45 pounds of heroin with an estimated street value of $36,360, 2.01 grams of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $80.40, and 5.5 grams of marijuana with an estimated street value of $1.23.
The driver and passenger, both identified as United States Citizens, and the narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The vehicle was also seized as per El Centro Sector seized guidelines.
