Over $2 million of narcotics seized over the weekend
IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Over the weekend, the El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a U.S. citizen and three Mexican natives accused of smuggling narcotics.
Accordingly, in a press release, these three arrests happened in one weekend and have estimated to over $2.05 million.
Friday bust
Firstly, on Friday, at approximately 2:50pm, agents encountered two undocumented individuals in the Jacumba Wilderness region.
Furthermore, agents verified that the individuals did not possess the required documents to be legally present in the United States.
Also, they discovered a cylindrical-shaped package tightly sealed with saran wrap and tape in their vehicle.
Afterwards, the agents took the Mexican natives into custody and transported them to the El Centro Sector Processing Center.
In addition, the sealed packages had been confiscated and tested positive for fentanyl.
The estimated street value for the confiscated fentanyl is $6,048.
Saturday bust
Secondly, on Saturday, at approximately, while agents conducted a routine traffic check and performed a vehicle stop on a 2022 red Honda Civic.
The vehicle's driver was a 27-year-old U.S. citizen.
This occurred east of the Golf Center Parkway exit and Interstate 10.
During the stop, a Border Patrol K-9 detection team, called in by the agents, searched the vehicle and found a cooler in the trunk.
Inside the cooler was 10 bundles of a white crystal-like substance.
Immediately afterwards, the agents took the driver and the cooler into custody and transported them to the Indio Border Patrol Station.
After that, they tested the 4.9 kilograms of the found substance, and tested positive for methamphetamines.
The estimated street value of said narcotic is $23,925.
Soon after, the agents turned over the driver, vehicle, and narcotics to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.
Sunday bust
Lastly, on Sunday, at approximately 10:50pm, a 1997 blue Freightliner tractor-trailer approached the Highway 11 immigration checkpoint.
The vehicle's driver was a 33-year-old Mexican native.
Upon seeing the vehicle, the inspecting agent referred them to a secondary inspection.
During the secondary inspection, the agents discovered a black trash bag with several brown cellophane bundles inside.
Not only that, they found three more bags of the same content in the "sleep area."
Afterwards, the agents placed the driver under arrest and escorted him inside the checkpoint for further inspection.
While at the checkpoint, the 38 bundles, in total, tested positive for cocaine with an estimated street value of $1,335,340.
Additionally, 20 bundles tested positive for fentanyl with an estimated street value of $674,000.
Then, the agents turned over the driver, vehicle, and narcotics to the DEA.
Response to the three busts
“This is yet another poignant reason why it’s vitally important to staff the border area and traffic checkpoints with highly trained agents and support staff,” said El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino.
“This is in line with both enforcing federal law and upholding taxpayer expectations - the Green Team is always ready!”
