Over $2.6 million worth of narcotics seized by Border Patrol in Salton City

Over $2,600,000 worth of narcotics were confiscated by Border Patrol agents in separate incidents at the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint in Salton City last week.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the incident happened last Sunday night around 11 p.m. A canine detection team alerted officers to a white Freightliner, driven by a 32-year-old man, that had driven into the checkpoint.

Agents referred the man to secondary inspection where they discovered several packages hidden inside the sleeper berth of the truck. Authorities confirmed the substances inside the packages were consistent with the characteristics of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine.

The total weight of the methamphetamine discovered was 391.810 pounds , with an estimated value of $1,016,600.

The total weight of the heroin discovered was 47.190 pounds , with an estimated value of $1,510,080.

The total weight of the cocaine discovered was 5.1 pounds , with an estimated value of $57,954.

The driver, a Mexican citizen, the narcotics, and Freightliner were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The second incident happened on Sunday morning at around 1:50 a.m. A 54-year-old man, along with a 37-year-old woman, was driving in a gold Honda Accord and drove into the checkpoint.

A canine detection team alerted to the vehicle which led agents to search and discover several packages hidden inside the vehicle’s car battery. The packages contained substances consistent with the characteristics of fentanyl and heroin.

The total weight of the fentanyl discovered was 4.9 pounds , with an estimated value of $57,909.

The total weight of the heroin discovered was 2.5 pounds , with an estimated value of $29,545.

Both passengers, who are U.S. citizens, the narcotics, and vehicle were also turned over to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office Border Crime Suppression Team.