Officials: Teen Used Remote-Controlled Car to Smuggle Meth Across Border

remote controlled meth

A 16-year-old boy was arrested this week after Border Patrol agents caught him allegedly trying to smuggle more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine across the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to a statement from the U.S. Customs And Border Protection agency, agents spotted the young man walking along a secondary border wall while carrying two duffel bags shortly after midnight on Sunday. Agents pursued the teen as he fled, later catching up with the young man after finding him hiding in some brush near the border.

"Questioning the young man and searching his bags, the agent discovered 50 packages of methamphetamine," the release from CBP stated. 

The bundles, which weighed about 56 pounds, were stashed in the duffel bag alongside the remote-controlled car that was used to allegedly carry the drugs over the border. The drugs had an estimated street value of more than $106,000, according to the release.

The teenager, who was identified as a U.S. citizen, was arrested and brought to a local station to face drug smuggling charges.

remote controlled drug car

“I am extremely proud of the agents’ heightened vigilance and hard work in stopping this unusual smuggling scheme,” San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Douglas Harrison said in a statement.

Agents foiled a similar scam two years ago after a 25-year-old drug smuggler attempted to use a remote-controlled drone to bring 13 pounds of methamphetamine across the border. That scheme also resulted in an arrest. That suspect was later tried, convicted, and sentenced to 12-years in prison.

Photos: U.S. Customs and Border Protection


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