Mecca, Calif. — Today, U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Border Patrol station arrested a woman attempting to smuggle more than 140 pounds of marijuana stashed in her vehicle while driving with two young passengers on Interstate 10.
The incident occurred at approximately 2 a.m., when agents stopped a vehicle on Interstate 10 near Box Canyon Road exit. The driver, a 41-year-old woman and naturalized citizen of the United States, and her two juvenile passengers, a 17-year-old female and a 4-year-old boy were in the vehicle. Agents searched the vehicle and discovered 6 large packages of marijuana wrapped in plastic behind the back seat.
The packages of marijuana had a combined weight of 141.5 pounds and had an estimated street value of $112,840.
Riverside Child Protective Services responded and took custody of both juveniles. The young boy was later determined to be the woman’s grandson.
The woman was transported to the Indio Border Patrol Station for processing. The packages of marijuana and vehicle were seized and transported to the Indio Station.
