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  4. Otay Mesa CBP Officers Seize $2.1 Million of Narcotics in Two Days

Otay Mesa CBP Officers Seize $2.1 Million of Narcotics in Two Days

Release Date
Wed, 07/10/2019

SAN DIEGO – CBP officers assigned to the Otay Mesa cargo facility seize $2.1 million of narcotics in two days.

 

“Drug trafficking organizations will try every avenue to bring narcotics across,” said Port Director Rosa Hernandez. “These apprehensions showcase CBP officers facing this challenge head on.”

 

The first incident occurred on Monday July 1, at about 5:00 p.m., when a 36-year-old male Mexican citizen entered the port of entry driving a Ford Bobtail truck with cargo manifested as electrical equipment. The CBP officer referred the truck for further inspection. 

 

A CBP canine team screened the truck and the detector dog gave a positive alert to the rear cargo area. Officers searched the shipment and discovered 285 large wrapped packages of methamphetamine and 33 containers of marijuana oil, weighing more than 1,140 pounds.

CBP Officers discover more than 3,000 lbs of marijuana comingled with broccoli.
CBP officers discover more than 3,000 lbs.
of marijuana comingled with broccoli.

 

The second incident occurred on Tuesday July 2, at about 7:45 p.m., when a 52-year-old male Mexican citizen entered the port of entry driving a tractor-trailer with cargo manifested as broccoli. The CBP officer referred the truck for further inspection

 

A CBP canine team screened the pallets of broccoli and the detector dog gave a positive alert. Officers opened one of the boxes and discovered a green taped package comingled within the broccoli. Officers and discovered a total of 315 large wrapped packages of marijuana, weighing more than 3,365 pounds.

 

In total, the narcotics have an estimated street value of $ 2.1 million.

 

Officers cancelled both driver’s visas and turned them over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations’ agents. 

 

CBP seized the trucks and narcotics. 

 

CBP officers at the border crossings in Southern California routinely stop illegal activity, while processing millions of legitimate travelers into the United States.  Those statistics can be found here: CBP-enforcement-statistics

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021