Mexican national arrested for smuggling duffel bags full of meth in California, Border Patrol says

CBP says man with border crossing card caught with 154 pounds of methamphetamine in car

A Mexican national was caught smuggling multiple duffel bags filled with 154 pounds of methamphetamine into California on Monday, officials said.

El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents spotted a beige sedan while patrolling Interstate 10 near Dillon Road in Indio around 5 a.m. and pulled the car over, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said.

A K-9 unit requested to search the car, but the driver refused, officials said. The police dog sniffed around the exterior of the car and alerted agents to check the interior.

Agents found five duffel bags with multiple packages wrapped in cellophane, characteristic of how narcotics are transported, according to the agency.

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Agents seized 154 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $278,000. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

A sample from the packages was taken and tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. The 154 pounds of the substance had an estimated street value of $278,000, according to CBP.

Five duffel bags were found inside the car. Each bag held packages of meth, officials said. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

The driver, identified as a Mexican national with a border crossing card, was arrested. Officials said his entry benefits were revoked.

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The driver, identified as a Mexican citizen, had a border crossing card, officials said. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

The border agents were on patrol as part of Operation Apollo, a joint regional operation comprised of federal, state and local agencies working to combat the threat from fentanyl and other illicit synthetic narcotics.

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So far in fiscal 2024, agents have seized about 43,000 pounds of meth. Throughout fiscal 2023, they seized about 140,400 pounds of meth.

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