A trucker was nabbed by authorities near Las Vegas after it was discovered he was scoping out information online about dodging border inspections with illicit substances. Acting on a tip-off from federal agents who spotted his internet activity, Border Patrol intercepted his vehicle on Interstate 15 near Primm, Nevada.
The driver, a U.S. citizen in his 30s, was hauling a trailer loaded with legitimate freight. He admitted to authorities he’d researched ways to conceal drugs—specifically methamphetamine—within his rig. Detectives then conducted a thorough search and uncovered approximately 143 pounds of methamphetamine tucked away in hidden compartments of the trailer. The value of the haul is estimated at around $2.8 million.
The driver, whose name has not been released, was taken into custody and now faces multiple charges related to drug possession and intent to distribute. The seized narcotics were estimated to have a significant street value, though exact figures were not disclosed.
Read | Truck Driver Caught Smuggling Over R7 Million Worth of Drugs at Beitbridge
The driver confessed that he’d made the online searches because someone paid him to smuggle the product. He’d thought the border was the best spot to slide the stash through. He faces federal charges including possession with intent to distribute, and evading border inspection.
If convicted, the trucker could be looking at a hefty prison sentence. U.S. Code provisions for drug trafficking combined with tampering with border inspection protocols carry decades behind bars, and massive fines—up to a couple of million dollars.
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