Salton City, California - Saturday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested a suspected male drug smuggler at the Highway 86 checkpoint after discovering twenty packages of drugs concealed inside the fire wall of the vehicle he was driving.

The incident occurred at approximately 10 a.m., when Border Patrol agents encountered the 25-year-old driver, of a 1997 Chevrolet, travelling with his 24-year-old girlfriend and their two minor children as they approached the checkpoint.

At a pre-primary check a Border Patrol Canine Detection team alerted to the vehicle.  Border Patrol agents referred the driver to secondary for further investigation.  Upon inspection, agents discovered twenty packages of methamphetamine stuffed inside of the vehicles firewall.

The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 25.90 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $259,000.

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

The woman and her two minor children all citizens of Mexico, were returned to Mexico.

The woman’s B1/B2 temporary visitor visa was revoked.