The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the arrest of a U.S. citizen who allegedly attempted to smuggle cocaine through the Highway 86 checkpoint last weekend. The seized narcotics have an estimated value of $374,400.
In a CBP press release, it was detailed that around 5 p.m. on December 9, 2023, Indio agents grew suspicious of a black sedan being inspected at the main inspection area at the checkpoint. The driver was directed to a secondary inspection zone for further scrutiny. A K-9 unit, trained to detect concealed individuals and narcotics, alerted the agents to an aftermarket compartment on the vehicle’s rear driver side. Ten vacuum-sealed packets were discovered within this compartment. Subsequent tests confirmed that these packets contained cocaine, weighing in total approximately 26 pounds.
According to the same press release, the driver – a 30-year-old woman – along with her vehicle and the confiscated narcotics were handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further processing and investigation.
Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino commented on this incident in the press release saying, “This white powder is not indicative of the Christmas Spirit. In fact, old Kris Kringle himself would be most unhappy at the actions of this vile criminal.” He went on to commend his team by adding: “Another great job by Indio agents as they absolutely wreck drug smugglers.”
A CBP press release from last month reported another incident where Indio agents apprehended a 21-year-old individual attempting to smuggle 218 pounds of liquid methamphetamine valued at approximately $328,000. The drugs were concealed within a gas tank.
As per CBP drug seizure statistics for FY 2023, CBP has seized approximately 81,000 pounds of cocaine, 140,000 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly 150,000 pounds of marijuana.
