SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents working at the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint arrested a man suspected of smuggling narcotics Saturday afternoon.



The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m., when a 57-year-old man driving a white Ford Explorer approached the checkpoint. A Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted to the vehicle in the primary inspection lane. Agents directed the vehicle to enter the secondary inspection area for further investigation.



While in secondary inspection, Border Patrol agents discovered a total of 76 packages concealed in the dashboard, all four doors and the two rear quarter panels of the vehicle. Agents determined that the packages contained a substance that was consistent with the characteristics of methamphetamine.



“Our agents continue to protect the United States in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Ryan J. Scudder. “The nation is safer now that the illegal narcotics seized at our Hwy 86 checkpoint will not make it into our communities.”



The total weight of the narcotics discovered was approximately 83 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated value of $156,000.



The man, a United States citizen, the narcotics and vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).