A Mexican man was arrested Monday for smuggling multiple duffel bags filled with 154 pounds of methamphetamine into California, officials said.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Border Patrol agents in the El Centro area were patrolling Interstate 10 near Dillon Road, Ind., around 5 a.m. when they spotted a beige sedan and stopped the vehicle. Ta.
Officials said a K-9 unit was asked to search the vehicle, but the driver refused. The K-9 unit sniffed the exterior of the vehicle and alerted personnel to check the interior.
Investigators later discovered five duffel bags containing multiple packages wrapped in cellophane, a characteristic of drug transportation methods, the agency said.
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Investigators seized 154 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $278,000. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
A sample was taken from the package and tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. The estimated street value of the 154 pounds of material was $278,000, according to CBP.
Five duffel bags were found inside the vehicle. Officials said each bag contained a package of methamphetamine. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
The driver was identified as a Mexican national who had a border crossing card and was arrested. Officials said his immigration privileges have also been revoked.
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Officials said the driver was identified as a Mexican national and had a border crossing card. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
The Border Patrol agents were conducting the patrol as part of Operation Apollo, a regional joint operation made up of federal, state and local agencies working to combat the threat of fentanyl and other illegal synthetic drugs.
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So far in fiscal year 2024, investigators have seized approximately 43,000 pounds of meth. Approximately 140,400 pounds of meth was seized throughout fiscal year 2023.
