Border Patrol Agents Seize more than $1.3 Million in Cocaine

U.S. Border Patrol Agents Seize more than $1.3 Million in Cocaine at Highway 86 Checkpoint

(Friday, April 30, 2010)

Indio, Calif. – United States Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio station seized a cocaine shipment on Friday with an estimated street value of $1.3 million.

Agents working at the checkpoint on Highway 86 performed an immigration inspection of a 43-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a red Ford Mustang. During the inspection, a canine team alerted to the vehicle. When agents investigated further they found several packages wrapped in black electrical tape hidden in a compartment built below the rear seat.

The driver, vehicle and cocaine were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

So far this fiscal year, the El Centro Sector Border Patrol has seized approximately 850 pounds of cocaine as compared to 170 pounds of cocaine seized during fiscal year 2009.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release
El Centro Sector
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (760) 335-5798

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2010_7.xml