Salton City, California - El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station working at the Highway 86 checkpoint, arrested a man suspected of drug smuggling after they discovered packages of methamphetamine hidden in the seat cushions of his vehicle today.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m., when a 33-year-old man approached the checkpoint driving a 2016 Toyota Avalon.

A Border Patrol detection canine alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary inspection.  Agents referred the man to the secondary inspection area for a closer examination.

After an intensive search, agents discovered 44 bundles of methamphetamine wrapped in brown tape hidden in the vehicle’s seat cushions.

The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 60.73 pounds with an estimated street value of $546,570.

The man, a United States citizen, the vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.