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Border Patrol agents discover drugs taped to 17-year-old girl's body

Posted at 10:26 AM, Nov 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-17 13:26:29-05

(KGTV) - A 17-year-old girl was taken into custody at the El Centro border checkpoint after U.S. officials said Border Patrol agents discovered small packages of methamphetamine taped to her body.

Customs and Border Protection officials said the teen was a passenger in a Ford Focus that approached the Highway 86 checkpoint at about 1:15 p.m. Wednesday. Officials said three other people were in the vehicle.

According to officials, a canine team alerted agents to something suspicious in the vehicle. During a secondary inspection, agents found 10 small packages taped to the teen girl's legs.

Officials said the packages -- which weighed a combined 4.21 pounds with an estimated street value of $14,735 -- "were tested and contained the properties consistent with methamphetamine."

The drugs and the girl, who is a U.S. citizen, were turned over to DEA officials.

Officials did not say if the other vehicle occupants were taken into custody.