CBP finds more than $1 million of meth and fentanyl at California checkpoint

Drugs with an estimated street value of more than $1 million were found at a California immigration checkpoint, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced.

Authorities said Thursday they found the drugs when a 24-year-old man from Mexico approached the El Centro Sector checkpoint on Highway 86 in a Nissan Versa. The man, who presented a valid border crossing card, was referred to a secondary inspection to evaluate his documents and vehicle.

Agents uncovered 33 packages hidden in a floorboard in the car — including eight packages of fentanyl, with an estimated street value of $997,680. Twenty-five other packages contained methamphetamine.

“Stopping this narcotics trafficking event represents a significant seizure and undoubtedly softened the blow to our communities that the opioid crisis is causing,” David Kim, assistant chief patrol agent, said in a statement Thursday. “Our agents deserve all the credit for the hard work and dedication they display everyday to keep our communities safe.”

Customs and Border Protection estimates that the drugs were worth $1,066,941.

The drugs, the vehicle, and the man have all been handed over to authorities at the Drug Enforcement Administration for additional investigation.

Customs and Border Protection also announced this week they uncovered $6 million worth of methamphetamine at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge’s cargo facility that connects to Texas earlier this month. The drugs were found in a commercial shipment of melons.