Ocotillo, California - El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a man and woman suspected of drug smuggling in two separate incidents this past weekend.

The first incident occurred on Friday at approximately 6 p.m., when a Remote Video Surveillance operator observed a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe driving off-road in a northbound direction from the International Border Fence.

Agents assigned to the All-Terrain Vehicle unit responded to the area and arrested a 29-year-old man that fled from the Tahoe, which was stuck in the sand south of Highway 98.

Agents searched the Tahoe and discovered 23 bundles of marijuana in the rear area of the vehicle. The marijuana had a combined weight of 988 pounds with an estimated street value of $592,800.

The second incident occurred at approximately 10 p.m., on Saturday, when a 34-year-old woman approached the Highway 86 checkpoint driving a Honda Accord.

The woman’s nervous behavior prompted agents to refer her to secondary inspection for further investigation.

At secondary inspection, a canine detection team alerted to the trunk of the Accord. Agents conducted a thorough inspection of the trunk and found eight bundles of methamphetamine stuffed inside of a speaker box.

The methamphetamine had a combined weight of 17.96 pounds with an estimated street value of $179,600.

“These significant seizures help to make our communities a safer place this holiday season,” said Roy D. Villareal Acting Chief Border Patrol Agent of the El Centro Sector.

The man and woman, both Mexican citizens, the vehicles, and narcotics were turned over to the Imperial County Narcotics Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration respectively for further investigation.

In fiscal year 2014, El Centro Sector seized more than 5,713 pounds of marijuana and 445 pounds of methamphetamine.