Salton City, California - El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint arrested a man suspected of smuggling methamphetamine inside a vehicle’s gas tank on September 3rd.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:53 a.m., early Monday morning, when a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), approached the checkpoint in a white Jeep Cherokee.

During an immigration inspection, agents referred the vehicle to secondary inspection for further investigation.

In secondary, a Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the vehicle and agents discovered 35 vacuumed sealed packages concealed inside of the vehicle’s gas tank.

The packages were examined and tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine. 

The combined weight of the packages totaled 38.58 lbs., with an estimated street value of $102,237.

The details of the subject’s arrest was referred to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, to determine if revoking his privileged status is warranted.

The 26-year-old man, a Mexican citizen, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the vehicle and narcotics for further investigation.

In fiscal year 2018, El Centro Sector agents have seized more than 1,076.02 pounds of methamphetamine, amounting to over $2.5 million.