Heroin, Fentanyl Seized at California Inland Border Security Checkpoints

El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents seized heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in three separate incidents at California inland border security checkpoints.

Agents assigned to the Highway 86 Border Patrol checkpoint observed a driver approaching for inspection. During an immigration interview, the agents determined the driver to be a U.S. citizen. The agents referred the driver to a secondary inspection area where a K-9 agent alerted to an odor it is trained to detect, according to a statement from El Centro Sector Border Patrol officials.

The agents began a search of the vehicle and found 28 vacuum-sealed packages hidden in the vehicle’s door panels. The agents tested the packages and obtained positive results for methamphetamine. The drugs weighed 39.45 pounds and had an estimated street value of more than $63,000.

Agents arrested the driver and seized the vehicle and drugs. The Drug Enforcement Administration will conduct an investigation into the failed smuggling attempt.

On Thursday, agents assigned to the same checkpoint observed a private taxi approaching for inspection. The taxi contained multiple passengers, officials reported. The agents referred the taxi driver to a secondary inspection area where agents discovered one of the passengers, a U.S. citizen, had packages of drugs on his person.

The agents tested the drugs and determined there was 2.61 pounds of heroin and .312 pounds of fentanyl. The total street value of the drugs is estimated to be more than $40,000. The agents arrested the 19-year-old man and turned him and the drugs over to the DEA.

Earlier in the week, agents assigned to the same checkpoint observed a Mitsubishi Eclipse approach for inspection. After a K-9 alerted to an odor it is trained to detect, the agents referred the driver, a 19-year-old man, to the secondary inspection area. Agents discovered multiple drug packages hidden in the fuel tank. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine, officials stated.

Agents reported the weight of the meth to be 42.07 pounds with an estimated street value of $96,761. Agents turned the drugs and the U.S. citizen driver over to the DEA for investigation. Officials also seized the vehicle.

In total, the agents seized more than 80 pounds of methamphetamine, nearly three pounds of heroin, and a small amount of fentanyl. The total value of the seized drugs is reported to be nearly $200,000.