OTAY MESA, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility made a significant drug bust on August 9, discovering 361 pounds of fentanyl and cocaine concealed within a flatbed trailer. This seizure marks a record in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The incident began when a 44-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer, with an empty flatbed, applied for entry into the United States from Mexico. The driver, who holds a valid border crossing card, was directed by CBP officers to undergo a secondary inspection.
During this inspection, CBP officers employed non-intrusive technology, which revealed anomalies within the trailer. A CBP K-9 unit was brought in to further examine the trailer, and the dogs quickly alerted officers to the presence of narcotics.
A thorough search led officers to a hidden compartment within the frame of the flatbed trailer, where they uncovered 77 packages of cocaine weighing nearly 228 pounds and 50 packages of fentanyl powder weighing over 133 pounds.
“This record-setting seizure is a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against drug trafficking,” stated Rosa Hernandez, CBP Port Director for the Area Ports of Otay Mesa. “The sheer quantity of fentanyl and cocaine concealed in this manner highlights the extreme lengths traffickers will go, and it underscores the exceptional vigilance and dedication of our officers.”
The driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation. The narcotics, along with the semi-truck and trailer, were seized by CBP.
This seizure is part of Operation Apollo, a comprehensive counter-fentanyl initiative launched in southern California on October 26, 2023, and later expanded to Arizona. Operation Apollo leverages intelligence gathering and partnerships with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies to bolster resources and target fentanyl smuggling into the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 150 people die each day from drug overdoses linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, underscoring the critical importance of efforts like Operation Apollo in combating the ongoing opioid crisis.–News Desk