Man arrested trying to smuggle heroin taped in buttocks

Border Patrol agents arrested a 31-year-old man who attempted to smuggle heroin between his buttocks at the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint Friday morning.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the incident happened at 11:30 a.m. Friday when a 31-year-old U.S. citizen arrived at the checkpoint as a passenger in a blue Acura coupe.

Agents referred the vehicle to secondary inspection where a Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the vehicle. Agents discovered two sealed packages taped between the man’s buttocks.

Authorities tested the packages which resulted positive for characteristics of heroin.

The combined weight of the packages totaled more than one-half pound (281.77 grams) with an estimated value of $21,132.

“This seizure is an example of the great work of the men and women of the El Centro Sector,” said Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. “Our community is a safer place because of the vigilance our agents demonstrate on a daily basis.”

The man and narcotics were turned over to the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) team for further investigation.