Nearly $200K in Meth Seized from Vehicle Circumventing Yuma Sector Checkpoint

YUMA, Ariz. – Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents seized nearly $200,000 in methamphetamine from a vehicle that was attempting to circumvent the Interstate 8 Immigration Checkpoint Friday morning.

At approximately 7:54 a.m., Wellton Station agents working a commonly utilized route to circumvent the Interstate 8 Immigration Checkpoint near Dome Valley observed a suspicious vehicle traveling east, near Avenue 20E and County 7th Street. Agents were following the vehicle, when the driver pulled over on his own. Agents then made contact with the driver, who is identified as a Lawful Permanent Resident Alien from Mexico. During the encounter, a Border Patrol canine positively alerted to an odor it was trained to detect. Agents discovered 90 packages of methamphetamine hidden inside a speaker box behind the front seat. The narcotics have a combined weight of 65.34 pounds and a street value of more than $196,000.

The driver was arrested for the transportation of a controlled substance. The drugs, vehicle and subject were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.