A United States citizen and four illegal aliens from Mexico were arrested by Wellton Station Border Patrol agents after they attempted to smuggle over 30 pounds of methamphetamine into the United States.
At approximately 5:30 p.m., agents observed four individuals exiting the desert east of Tacna along Interstate 8. A short time later, the individuals loaded up into a gray 2009 Nissan Altima and traveled eastbound along the interstate. Agents performed an immigration stop on the vehicle and encountered a 25-year-old male U.S. citizen driver from Mesa. The four passengers in the vehicle were identified as illegal aliens from Mexico. Agents also discovered a pair of backpacks inside of the vehicle containing 30.4 pounds of crystallized methamphetamine. The narcotics have an approximate street value of $91,200.
The five subjects were arrested for the transportation of a controlled substance. The four illegal aliens were also processed for immigration violations.