U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility made a significant drug bust last Friday, seizing over $5 million worth of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of watermelons. The discovery was part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat drug smuggling at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The incident unfolded when a 29-year-old driver of a commercial tractor-trailer arrived at the Otay Mesa crossing, transporting what was declared as a shipment of watermelons. Upon inspection, CBP officers decided to conduct a secondary examination, suspecting something amiss.
During the more thorough inspection at the secondary facility, the shipment was offloaded, and officers carefully scrutinized the cargo. What appeared to be ordinary watermelons were, in fact, elaborate disguises concealing 1,220 packages wrapped in paper. Upon testing, the packages were confirmed to contain methamphetamine, totaling 4,587 pounds. The street value of this massive haul is estimated to exceed $5 million.
Following the seizure, the narcotics and the commercial vehicle were confiscated by CBP. The driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further questioning and legal proceedings.
Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa, praised the CBP officers for their vigilance and skill in detecting such a sophisticated smuggling attempt. She highlighted the ever-evolving methods used by drug cartels and reiterated the CBP’s commitment to staying ahead of these tactics.
This significant seizure is part of Operation Apollo, an intensified effort launched in October 2023 in Southern California, and later expanded to Arizona in April 2024. The operation focuses on countering the smuggling of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into the United States through enhanced intelligence gathering, increased collaboration among federal and local agencies, and targeted operations at key entry points.–News Desk