Alleged Rapist Arrested During Drug Smuggling Attempt

An illegal alien wanted for an alleged rape in the state of Washington was arrested in southern California. The man had reportedly entered the U.S. from Mexico with nearly $1 million worth of drugs hidden in his truck.

Officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) observed the man acting suspiciously as he attempted to cross the Calexico border crossing from Mexico into California. The driver, later identified as a 41-year-old man from El Salvadoria, was driving a red 2008 Ford pickup truck. He was referred to a secondary inspection station after officers became suspicious of his nervous behavior.

While attempting to cross from Mexico, the man presented officers a U.S. birth certificate and driver’s license, information provided by the CBP to Breitbart Texas revealed.

The secondary inspection was conducted with the use of the port-of-entry’s imaging system. The non-invasive inspection revealed anomalies that cause officers to begin a more invasive search of the vehicle. A narcotics K-9 officer also alerted to the presence of narcotics.

The search revealed 24 packages of methamphetamine that had been placed in custom-designed containers that were welded to the rims of the tires. All four tires contained these specially hidden canisters filled with drugs.

The 119 pounds of meth was valued at $892,500 by CBP officials.

The man was arrested and it was discovered that the U.S. birth certificate and driver’s licensed presented by the man was not his. A ten-print fingerprint scan was conducted using the Automated Fingerprint Identification System. It was then learned that not only did the Salvadoran man not have legal status to be in the United States, he was also wanted on an outstanding rape charge in Pasco, Washington.

The name of the alleged rapist illegal alien was not released by CBP officials.

The man, whose name was not released by CBP officials, was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for processing on all of the charges. He was later transferred to the Imperial County jail where he will be held pending arraignment and extradition to Washington for the rape charge. An immigration hold has also been placed on his records. He will be deported from the U.S. after his criminal proceedings have been completed.

Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and is a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.