On the evening of August 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility made a significant drug bust, seizing 629 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of celery. The discovery highlights the continued vigilance and expertise of CBP officers in preventing illegal narcotics from entering the United States.
The incident unfolded when CBP officers encountered a 34-year-old male driver of a commercial tractor-trailer attempting to enter the United States from Mexico. The driver, who was in possession of a valid border crossing card, declared that he was transporting a shipment of celery. Following standard procedures, the officers directed the vehicle and its cargo to a secondary inspection area for a more detailed examination.
During the secondary inspection, the shipment of celery was offloaded for closer scrutiny. A CBP K-9 unit was brought in to inspect the produce, and the dog quickly alerted officers to the presence of narcotics. Upon further inspection, officers discovered 508 packages hidden among the celery. Laboratory testing confirmed that the packages contained methamphetamine, with a total weight of 629.72 pounds and an estimated street value of $755,000.
Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa, praised the officers’ efforts: “Our officers’ vigilance and expertise once again thwarted an attempt to smuggle narcotics disguised as everyday produce. This discovery underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from the perils of drug trafficking.”
As a result of the operation, CBP officers seized both the narcotics and the commercial tractor-trailer involved in the smuggling attempt. The driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further investigation.
This significant seizure was part of Operation Apollo, a comprehensive counter-fentanyl initiative launched on October 26, 2023, in Southern California and expanded to Arizona on April 10, 2024. Operation Apollo focuses on intelligence gathering and partnerships, utilizing local CBP field assets in collaboration with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to combat the smuggling of fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States.–News Desk