U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 15 checkpoint prevented a narcotics smuggling attempt yesterday resulting in the seizure of 56 pounds of methamphetamine.

At approximately 3:45 p.m., agents encountered the 56-year-old male Mexican national driver of a blue 1999 Mercury Cougar as he arrived to the checkpoint. During inspection, agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor and referred him for a secondary inspection.

A Border Patrol K-9 team performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert to the vehicle’s interior. Agents searched the vehicle and discovered 24 bundles of methamphetamine concealed inside of the natural voids within the rear quarter panels behind both the driver’s and passenger’s seats.

The methamphetamine weighed a total of 56 pounds and had an estimated street value of $1,120,000. The suspected smuggler and narcotics were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.