El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents conducting a routine checkpoint on Highway 86 uncovered an attempt by a motorist to transport cocaine. The individual behind the wheel is identified as a 30-year-old female U.S. citizen.
Gregory K. Bovino, Chief Patrol Agent at U.S. Border Patrol, stated, "We pumped the brakes on this smuggling operation. On 12/9, El Centro Sector agents, from the Indio Station, seized 25.8 lbs. of cocaine hidden underneath a vehicle’s gas tank. That’s over $374,000 worth of dangerous narcotics."
According to a media release by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the incident unfolded at 5 p.m. on Dec. 9 when a black car entered the chief inspection area of the checkpoint and agents detected suspicious behavior. Consequently, the vehicle was directed to a secondary inspection area for further scrutiny where a K-9 unit indicated anomalies in the car’s rear driver side.
The ensuing search led border patrol agents to discover ten vacuum-sealed packages containing approximately 26 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $374,400, as per the news release. The driver, vehicle and contraband were subsequently handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.
Bovino later commented on the incident 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 added praise for his team's efforts stating that it was "another great job by Indio agents as they absolutely wreck drug smugglers."
In terms of broader context for this seizure, during fiscal year 2023 customs officials and agents across America have confiscated substantial quantities of illegal substances: 27,000 pounds of fentanyl; 140,000 pounds of methamphetamine; 81,100 pounds of cocaine; and 150,000 pounds of marijuana, according to statistics available on the CBP website.
