Fentanyl, other Narcotics and Firearm Seized at Checkpoint

SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Highway 86 checkpoint arrested an 18-year-old-male and 17-year-old juvenile male in possession of various types illegal narcotics and a rifle Wednesday evening.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m., when two males in a Volkswagen Jetta approached the Highway 86 checkpoint.

A Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the vehicle.  Agents referred the vehicle to secondary for further investigation.

At secondary inspection, Border Patrol agents discovered several bags containing illegal narcotics.  The narcotics found totaled 1.07 grams of fentanyl, 5.34 grams of methamphetamine, 729.6 grams of marijuana, 76 alprazolam pills, 4 oxycodone pills, and 2 clonazepam pills.  Agents also discovered an AR-15 type rifle, not registered to either of the subjects in the car. 

“Many times when law enforcement officers encounter narcotics, firearms are present,” said Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez.  “This type of situation highlights the dangers our Border Patrol agents could face on any given day.”

Both subjects are United States citizens. Custody of both males, the narcotics, and rifle was transferred to the California Highway Patrol for further investigation of state crimes.