Crime & Safety
Cocaine Smugglers Nabbed on Highway 86
The Mexican nationals were stopped at a Border Patrol checkpoint.
On Wednesday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested suspected narcotics smugglers and seized more than 20 pounds of cocaine concealed in an aftermarket compartment of a vehicle.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m., when Border Patrol agents encountered a 21-year-old male driving a 2007 Jeep Commander and his passenger, a 48-year-old female as they approached the Highway 86 checkpoint. A Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the vehicle and the driver was referred to the secondary inspection area for further examination.
During secondary inspection, agents discovered a hidden compartment in the frame of the vehicle containing 18 individually wrapped packages of cocaine. The cocaine had a combined weight of 20.96 pounds with an estimated street value of $209,600.
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The suspects, who were determined to be Mexican nationals, the vehicle and cocaine, were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.
--Information from U.S. Department of Homeland Security
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