SALTON CITY, Calif. –El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents from the Indio Station assigned to the Highway 86 checkpoint arrested a suspected drug smuggler after discovering packages of heroin strapped to his body on Wednesday.
The incident occurred at approximately 4 p.m., when a commercial bus arrived at the checkpoint and was referred to secondary inspection for an immigration check.
During the immigration inspection Border Patrol agents encountered a 16-year-old boy who appeared nervous. A pat-down of the teen led to the discovery of four packages of heroin wrapped around his abdomen and held in place by a woman’s spandex body suit.
“The agents of the El Centro Sector Border Patrol continue to safeguard our nation and its citizens by keeping dangerous drugs such as these from reaching our streets,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Roy Villareal.
The heroin had a combined weight of 3.85 pounds with an estimated street value of $46,200.
The teen, a United States citizen, and the narcotics were turned over to the custody of the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.
