Trucker’s load of ‘limes’ turns out to be $8.4 million in marijuana

Federal officials say that they seized a whopping 5.5 tons of marijuana from a truck at a California border crossing.

The drug seizure happened on June 4 at the Otay Mesa Cargo port of entry in California.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), officers pulled in a 74 year old Mexican truck driver for a secondary inspection.

The trailer was supposedly carrying limes, but when officers searched the trailer, they discovered several “anomalies.”

“A CBP officer probed one of the boxes and extracted a green leafy substance that field-tested positive for the properties of marijuana,” CBP said.

Ultimately, CBP officers uncovered 468 large wrapped packages containing more than 11,000 pounds of marijuana.

The estimated street value of the drugs is $8.4 million.

CBP seized the truck, trailer, marijuana, and the cargo shipment.

The truck driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations.

“Criminals and other bad actors will try to get past us but CBP officers are focused on protecting our communities from illicit drugs,” said Division Director Rosa Hernandez.  “I am so proud of the officers for their efforts and know that they will continue to target these dangerous shipments.”