Two Women Attempt to Smuggle $300K in Meth, Heroin Past RivCo Border Patrol: CBP

INDIO, CA - Border Patrol agents working out of a Riverside County station had a busy Saturday, nabbing two women within one hour of each other who allegedly tried to smuggle narcotics into the United States, the agency reports.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's El Centro Sector office, agents from the Indio station captured the suspects allegedly trying to pass through the state Route 86 checkpoint with nearly 60 pounds of drugs hidden inside their cars.

Border Patrol said the first woman, a 33-year-old Mexican citizen, was caught at around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, when drug dogs alerted agents to her 2004 Ford Fusion.

"At secondary inspection, a Border Patrol detection canine team alerted to the vehicle," officials said in a news release. "After an intensive search, agents discovered 35 packages of narcotics hidden inside the front and rear seats of the sedan."

Those packages contained 37.53 pounds of methamphetamine valued at $120,096, officials said. The woman was arrested and the vehicle and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

About an hour later, a 58-year-old woman referred to as a lawful permanent resident was inspected while approaching the checkpoint in a 2002 Ford Windstar, Border Patrol officials said. After a canine alerted to her vehicle, she was sent to a secondary inspection site.

"After an intensive search, agents discovered five packages inside the rear seat of the vehicle," the agency said. "Two of the packages tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine while the other three packages were determined to contain heroin."

The 7.24 pounds of methamphetamine had an estimated street value of $23,168, while the 15.061 pounds of heroin had an estimated street value of $165, 671.

That woman was also arrested and turned over to the DEA, along with her van and the drugs, according to border officials.

According to Border Patrol officials, the El Centro Sector, which includes the Indio and Riverside stations, has seized more than 632. 1 pounds of methamphetamine and 38.61 pounds of heroin in the 2016-17 fiscal year.

— Images via U.S. Customs and Border Protection / City News Service contributed to this report