OTAY MESA, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa Cargo port of entry seized over five tons of narcotics Wednesday hidden in a cargo shipment.
“This truly shows the perseverance of our officers in making sure these drugs do not reach our city streets and children,” said Otay Mesa Port Director Rosa Hernandez. “I am proud of the hard work of our officers are doing.”
At approximately 6:45 a.m., on Wednesday, July 25, CBP officers encountered a 36-year-old Mexican citizen with a valid visa driving a tractor-trailer that entered the cargo facility carrying a manifested shipment of “doors and window frames.” CBP officers conducting roving operations selected the tractor-trailer for a further intensive examination.
CBP officers utilizing the ports imaging system identified an anomaly within the trailer. A CBP officer with a human-narcotic detector dog screened the trailer, and the canine alerted to the trailer doors.
Officers opened the trailer and discovered large boxes containing cellophane wrapped packages. In total, officers found 367 packages of methamphetamine and 1,188 packages of marijuana. CBP removed a total of 11,121 pounds of narcotics with an estimated value of approximately $7.7 million.
CBP officers seized the tractor, trailer, cargo shipment and narcotics.
The driver was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further processing.
If you have any information related to this seizure or any other suspected smuggling activity at the Otay Mesa Cargo facility, DHS encourages you to report it by calling its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form.