Border Patrol discovers almost half a million dollars worth of narcotics in truck
El Centro Sector Border Patrol arrested a man suspected of smuggling almost half a million dollars worth of narcotics inside his truck Saturday morning at the Highway 86 checkpoint.
At around 11:25 a.m., a 34-year-old man approached the checkpoint in a Honda pick-up truck. A canine detection team alerted to the bed of the pick-up.
After being referred to secondary inspection, agents found five packages stuffed inside a secret compartment between the truck’s cab and bed.
Agents tested the contents which indicated positive for heroin and cocaine.
The total weight of the heroin was 16.2 pounds with an estimated street value of $226,800. The weight of the cocaine totaled 20 pounds with an estimated street value of $260,000.
Agents identified the man as a Mexican citizen. The man, vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.
