INDIO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)– Two women were arrested by El Centro Border Patrol agents on Friday after being suspected of smuggling 176 pounds of methamphetamine, which has an estimated street value of $149,727, according to a press release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
According to the report, on Friday, Aug. 22, at around 6:40 a.m., the two women, aged 42 and 36, were driving a black SUV when they stopped at the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint in El Centro.
During the primary inspection, a Border Patrol K9 alerted officers to the probable presence of concealed people or drugs in the vehicle, according to authorities.
When officers further inspected the vehicle, they reportedly discovered several packages of a crystal-like substance wrapped in plastic and hidden in the vehicle’s compartments.
The substance tested positive for methamphetamine, according to authorities.
This incident marks the third significant drug seizure by agents at the Indio Station over the last two weeks.
On Tuesday, Aug. 12, agents reportedly found 238.72 pounds of marijuana and THC products that were seized from a van along with $16,265 in cash. According to authorities, the total street value of the substances was estimated at $190,976.
Later that same day, agents discovered 79.9 pounds of methamphetamine that was wrapped and bundled in a vehicle’s floorboards, according to the report. Authorities estimated the street value to be around $67,932.
According to the report, in all three events, the suspects were arrested, while the U.S. Border Patrol seized the vehicles, drugs and cash.
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