Cocaine and meth seized at checkpoint

U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Yuma Sector's Blythe Station seized more than 23 pounds of cocaine and more than four pounds of methamphetamines Monday in two separate incidents at a California checkpoint.

The cocaine, which weighed a total of 23.2 pounds, had a street value of $742,400. The meth, with a weight of 4.4 pounds, had a street value of $105,600.

In both seizures, which occurred within two hours of each other, the subjects were driving white 2004 Ford F-150 pickups.

The first was at approximately 10:15 a.m. and the second at approximately noon at the Highway 98 checkpoint north of Yuma.

A cursory sniff by a K9 team alerted to the odor of narcotics or hidden persons within the vehicles, according to the report. In both instances, the subjects were referred to secondary, where the K9 team alerted to the undercarriages of the vehicles.

An examination of the undercarriages revealed the oil pans had been tampered with. Agents removed the oil pans from the vehicles and discovered a total of 12 packages of cocaine and meth wrapped in cellophane and tape.

The subjects and narcotics were all turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The vehicles were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

To report suspicious activity, call the Yuma Sector Border Patrol's toll-free number at 1-866-999-8727.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.