Salton City, California - El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested a suspected drug smuggler Friday after discovering more than 6 pounds of methamphetamine hidden on his body.

The incident occurred at approximately 11 a.m., when Border Patrol agents encountered a 19-year-old man on a commercial passenger bus at the Highway 86 checkpoint.

Agents referred the bus driver to secondary inspection area for a passenger immigration check.  During the inspection, Border Patrol agents noticed a man wearing a sweater despite sweating profusely. Upon further inspection of the man, agents discovered a package taped to his abdomen containing what was later identified as methamphetamine.

The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 6.2 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $60,000.

The man and the narcotics were turned over to the custody of Drug Enforcement Administration agents for further investigation.

Last fiscal year, El Centro Sector seized more than 445 pounds of methamphetamine.