OTAY MESA, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility recently discovered and seized millions of dollars worth of methamphetamine that was hidden in a big rig’s load of peppers and tomatillos.
On Tuesday, March 12, CBP officers encountered a 27-year-old man driving a tractor-trailer, according to a news release.
The driver, who was also a valid border crossing card holder, was referred for further examination by CBP officers, along with the tractor-trailer and shipment.
While in the secondary inspection area, a CBP K-9 unit searched the shipment and alerted officers to examine the trailer more thoroughly. Upon further examination, a CBP agriculture specialist discovered a box containing a crystal-like substance within the shipment, the news release notes.
Officers extracted 3,594 packages from the shipment.
After the contents of the packages were tested, they were confirmed to be methamphetamine with a weight of 3,671.58 pounds.
CBP officers seized the narcotics and tractor-trailer, while the driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
This seizure is part of Operation Apollo, a joint regional operation comprised of federal, state and local agencies working to combat the threat from fentanyl and other illicit synthetic narcotics.
More information about Operation Apollo can be found here.
Born and raised in Little Rock, AR, Erica N. Guy decided to stay in her hometown to begin her professional career in journalism. Since obtaining her bachelor’s degree from UAPB, Erica has professionally written for several publications about several topics ranging from lifestyle, tech, culture, and entertainment, just to name a few. Continuing her love for her hometown, she joined our team in June 2023, where she is currently a staff writer. Her career goals include continuing storytelling through her writing by being the best professional writer she can be. In her spare time, Erica enjoys trying new foods, cozying up with a good book, spending time with family and friends, and establishing herself as a future businesswoman.
