Plastic bags of crank (methamphetamine) in police custody after drug bust. (Photo by William F. Campbell/Getty Images)
El Centro, California – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the El Centro Sector intercepted a major drug smuggling attempt last week, seizing more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a trailer and arresting a 27-year-old U.S. citizen in connection with the case.
The bust happened Monday around 10:30 a.m. along Highway 86 near Indio, when agents from the Indio Border Patrol Station stopped a black pickup truck towing a trailer northbound. A trained Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics or concealed persons in the vehicle and trailer, prompting a closer search.
Agents discovered a hidden compartment containing a crystal-like substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine. The driver, vehicle, and trailer were taken to the Indio Border Patrol Station for further investigation.
A more extensive inspection revealed 36 packages of methamphetamine concealed in three floor compartments within the trailer. In total, agents recovered 113 pounds of meth with an estimated street value of $96,500, according to authorities.
El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino praised the agents for their work.
“A sharp-eyed Border Patrol agent from Indio Station and his K-9 partner just took it to the bad guys, and we are proud of them!” Bovino said in a statement. “The Premier Sector goes to the ends of the earth to stop dangerous drugs such as these – ma and pa America, stay tuned, much more to come!”
The suspect, a 27-year-old U.S. citizen whose name has not yet been released, was arrested at the scene. The drugs and the vehicle were seized by U.S. Border Patrol.
This latest seizure is part of a growing list of drug interdictions by the El Centro Sector, which continues to serve as a critical line of defense in preventing illegal narcotics from entering communities across California and the nation.
Authorities say methamphetamine remains one of the most commonly trafficked drugs along Southern California’s border corridors. The potency and low cost of meth have contributed to increased use and overdose deaths nationwide, making interdictions like Monday’s especially vital.
Border Patrol officials say they will continue to rely on intelligence, technology, and highly trained K-9 units to disrupt drug trafficking networks and keep dangerous substances out of American neighborhoods.
The investigation into the origin and intended destination of the meth is ongoing.
