El Centro Sector, K9 team seized over $299k of drugs

SALTON CITY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents seized a United States citizen seeking out to smuggle dangerous drugs through an immigration checkpoint.

The bust happened last week on Friday, at about 3:45 a.m.

A 2007 blue Hyundai Santa Fe neared the Highway 86 checkpoint when an agent inspecting cars in the main lanes sent the car to secondary inspection.

The Border Patrol K-9 inspection team alerted agents soon after.

Agents checked the interior of the vehicle and uncovered narcotics hidden in the floorboard area.

According to agents, an in-depth inspection was conducted leading them to find 40 packages containing a white-crystal like substance which tested positive for meth.

Also found in the car were seven packages of pills tested positive for fentanyl.

The driver was a 28-year-old male in possession of 61.62 pounds of meth—an estimated street value of $215,670.

5.29 pounds of fentanyl were also in his possession with an estimated street value of $84,000.

The man, vehicle and drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.