Man arrested after smuggling meth through immigration checkpoint
El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a man suspected of smuggling methamphetamine at the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint Tuesday evening.
The 31-year-old man, driving a 2013 Nissan Maxima, approached the checkpoint at around 6:45 p.m.
A Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the vehicle and agents referred the vehicle to secondary inspection.
Agents further inspected the vehicle and discovered seven packages hidden inside a compartment under the driver and passenger seats. The contents of the packages tested positive for methamphetamine.
The total weight of the methamphetamine was 13.48 pounds with an estimated street value of $47,180.
The man, a permanent legal resident, was turned over to Drug Enforcement Agency along with the vehicle and drugs.
