Pictured is methamphetamine found strapped to the abdomens of two women at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Highway 86. (PHOTO COURTESY OF U.S. BORDER PATRO) |
SALTON CITY — Two women could face drug-related charges following their arrests Thursday for having cellophane containers of wrapped methamphetamine strapped around their abdomens, authorities said.
The unnamed women, both U.S. citizens, were traveling in a Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle when they approached the Highway 86 checkpoint, a press statement read.
The driver, 37, aroused the suspicions of U.S. Border Patrol agents who searched her vehicle but couldn’t find anything until they directed her to the secondary area of inspection. There agents found about 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine strapped around the driver’s abdomen as well as on her 25-year-old passenger, the statement read.
The methamphetamine, Border Patrol authorities reported in their release, carried an estimated worth of $77,000. The Border Patrol did not release the names or cities of residence of the two suspects, nor did they explain how the driver aroused the suspicion of Border Patrol agents.
Woman, 18, hurt in rollover crash off Interstate 8
An 18-year-old woman suffered major head injuries early Friday during a rollover crash that occurred off eastbound Interstate 8, a California Highway Patrol officer reported.
Stephanie M. Palafox, whose cities of residence were listed as Calexico and San Diego, was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center following the crash that was reported at 4:49 a.m., said Highway Patrol Officer Pablo Torrez.
Palafox was then flown to University of California San Diego Medical Center, where her condition was not known at press time.
Palafox, the lone occupant of a 2005 Ford Focus, tried correcting her direction of travel while approaching the Forrester Road overpass, Torrez said.
But the motion caused Palafox’s vehicle to skid out of control before it flipped over three to four times, coming to a rest on the north shoulder of westbound Interstate 8, Torrez said. Palafox was driving east on Interstate 8, the officer said.
Torrez said that alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the collision, but that it is still under investigation.
Man arrested after illegal slot machine found
Imperial County Sheriff’s authorities are investigating a case involving a Los Angeles County man who was arrested Thursday on suspicion of possessing an illegal video slot machine, investigators said Friday.
Sheriff’s authorities received a tip about a slot machine at a business, said Imperial County Sheriff’s Investigator Romeo Santiago. Santiago and sheriff’s investigator Jorge Cabanillas declined to release much information about the arrest of 31-year-old Shlomi Gazali, who was booked on suspicion of having the illegal gambling machine and in possession of a prohibited weapon.
Gazali was released from county jail after posting bail. Cabanillas and Santiago declined to name the business.
Cabanillas said anyone who knows of other illegal gambling machines around the Imperial Valley should call local law enforcement.
