OCOTILLO, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested two men suspected of smuggling more than 33 pounds of fentanyl early Friday morning.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m., after agents conducted a vehicle stop near State Route 2 and Highway 78.
During a K-9 detection sniff of the vehicle, the agent’s dog alerted to the possible presence of narcotics or concealed humans.
After an intensive search, agents discovered 13 plastic bundles of narcotics stuffed inside of the vehicle’s seats.
The bundles contained a white powdery substance that was later determined to be fentanyl.
“Seizures of such potent and dangerous drugs such as this, demonstrate the vital role that the men and women of the Border Patrol play in ensuring our communities are a safer place to live,” said Acting Special Operations Supervisor Miguel A. Garcia of the El Centro Sector.
The fentanyl weighed 33.5 pounds with an estimated street value of over $1.5 million.
The men, a 23-year-old citizen of the United States and a 29-year-old lawful permanent resident, the vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.
This was the second seizure of fentanyl that week by agents of the El Centro Sector. Earlier, two Mexican citizens were arrested for their role in smuggling 1.18 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.39 pounds of fentanyl at the Highway 86 checkpoint.
