BP agents seize $301K in narcotics and cash

Agents seized more than 47 pounds of hard narcotics in two separate smuggling events on Thursday, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Wellton Station agents working at Interstate 8 Immigration checkpoint made their first bust after they referred a shuttle van to secondary inspection for an immigration check of its passengers.

During the inspection, a canine alerted to a seat occupied by a 44-year-old man.

A searched of his luggage yielded a two point two pound package of heroin.

The heroin is valued at $38,448.

The second event happened at the Highway 78 Immigration checkpoint, after Blythe station agents referred a red 2002 Ford Explorer to secondary inspection.

A canine alerted to an odor it was trained to detect.

Agents searched the vehicle and discovered an aftermarket body compartment near the gas tank.

The compartment was filled with 30 bundles of 35.3 ponds of methamphetamine, five point three pounds of cocaine and five pounds of heroin.

The 26-year-old driver was carrying $8,840 in her purse and the combined worth of the narcotics is $254,144.

Both suspects were arrested and all contraband was seized.