Firearms, drugs, suspects nabbed at checkpoints

Border Patrol agents stationed at checkpoints on Interstates 8 and 10 seized firearms, cash, illegal drugs and arrested almost 100 immigrants illegally present in the United States over the past week.

On Wednesday, a U.S. citizen was arrested after agents assigned to the Wellton Station reported finding 15 kilograms of methamphetamine in the vehicle he was driving. His identity was not released to the public.

The man was trying to pass through the inspection checkpoint on I-8 near milepost 78 when a working dog indicated the possible presence of contraband inside his 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche.

Agents reportedly discovered the meth during a search of the vehicle. The driver, vehicle and meth were transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations.

Agents from the Yuma Sector's Blythe Station, who set up a temporary checkpoint on I-10 during a week-long operation, also made several seizures and arrests.

They seized 10 firearms (four reported as stolen), $31,735 in cash, six pounds of cocaine, 110 pounds of marijuana, one pound each of meth and heroin, and arrested 97 people.

The estimated combined value of the drugs seized at the I-10 checkpoint was $167,000.