(Smuggling attempt foiled)….It happened Sunday evening.
At around 9:35 pm Border Patrol agents conducted a vehicle stop near Heil and 7th Street in El Centro. Agents recognized the driver of the Toyota as a convicted alien smuggler. The driver was questioned and it was determined the man was on supervised release for alien smuggling. The agents received consent to search the vehicle and discovered a loaded STAR 9 mm pistol under the driver’s seat. The driver was arrested for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. A search of the driver resulted in the discovery of a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue. The driver, a 30 year old US citizen was arrested and is being held in federal custody pending further prosecution. The weapon and paraphernalia were seized as evidence.