Border Patrol makes drug bust; arrest three people
El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested three people after they made a drug seizure at a checkpoint over the weekend, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The incident occurred late Saturday night, when a male driver along with two female passengers, approached the Highway 86 checkpoint in a silver Dodge Journey.
Agents said a Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the vehicle in pre-primary and was sent to secondary for further investigation.
In secondary, agents said they discovered a crystal-like substance in a grocery bag in the vehicle. A factory compartment in the vehicle also contained plastic packages containing a substance believed to be contraband. A search of the passengers’ items revealed two syringes containing a dark liquid. Additional questioning revealed that the female passengers were both concealing plastic packages in their groin area.
CBP said all substances were tested and proved positive for methamphetamine, heroin, or marijuana.
The total weight of the heroin was 1.17 pounds with an estimated value of $10,530. The weight of the methamphetamine totaled 1.56 pounds with an estimated value of $5,148. The marijuana found in the vehicle totaled .015 pounds with a value of $87.
All three subjects, narcotics, paraphernalia, and vehicle were turned over to High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) for further investigation.
In fiscal year 2018, El Centro Sector has seized more than 43.72 pounds of heroin, and more than 451.56 pounds of methamphetamine.
