Salton City, California - El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a man suspected of drug smuggling at the Highway 86 checkpoint today after discovering packages of methamphetamine in his vehicle.

The incident occurred at approximately 10 a.m., when Border Patrol agents encountered the 24-year-old driver of a 2013 Dodge Avenger at the checkpoint.

A Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the vehicle and agents referred the driver to secondary for further investigation.  After an intensive search, agents discovered 34 packages of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle’s rocker panels.

The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 50.57 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $505,000.

The man, a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident of the U.S., the vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.

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