CALEXICO, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Calexico Commercial Facility seized over 646 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of green onions last week. The incident took place on Thursday, October 10, 2024, when officers encountered a 63-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer carrying the shipment. The driver, who held a valid border crossing card, was referred for further inspection.
During the secondary inspection, a CBP K-9 unit detected the presence of narcotics. Upon closer examination of the trailer, CBP officers discovered 608 packages hidden within the floor of the shipment. Tests confirmed the contents as methamphetamine, weighing 646.61 pounds with an estimated street value of $775,000.
“This seizure exemplifies our officers’ ability to adapt and uncover illicit contraband, no matter how cleverly concealed,” said Roque Caza, Port Director for the Area Port of Calexico.
The drugs and the tractor-trailer were seized, and the driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further inquiry. This operation falls under Operation Apollo, a counter-fentanyl initiative that began in 2023, aiming to bolster collaboration and intelligence-sharing efforts to combat drug smuggling across southern California and Arizona.–News Desk