U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility intercepted a shipment containing 629 pounds of methamphetamine hidden within a consignment of celery on the evening of August 9. The discovery was made when a 34-year-old male driver, with a valid border crossing card, arrived from Mexico in a commercial tractor-trailer declared to be carrying celery. The vehicle and its cargo were subjected to a secondary inspection, during which a CBP K-9 unit alerted officers to the presence of narcotics within the produce shipment. A total of 508 packages were found concealed among the celery, confirmed to contain methamphetamine, valued at approximately $755,000.
Image: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
"Our officers' vigilance and expertise once again thwarted an attempt to smuggle narcotics disguised as everyday produce," stated Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa. The narcotics and the vehicle involved were seized, and the driver was detained for further investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.
This operation is part of Operation Apollo, an initiative aimed at combating fentanyl smuggling through enhanced intelligence and collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies, which commenced in southern California on October 26, 2023, and expanded to Arizona on April 10, 2024.
Source: cbp.gov