A Mexican truck driver is facing federal charges after he was caught with more than a ton of methamphetamine at a U.S. border crossing.
The drug bust occurred at 9:45 a.m. on May 15 at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility in San Diego, California.
According to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the truck driver entered the facility with a load manifested as “various medical supplies.”
A CBP officer referred the truck for a secondary inspection involving an x-ray screening.
During the imaging screening, officers discovered “anomalies within the cargo shipment.”
A canine unit was brought in to screen the truck and trailer. The dog alerted to one of the pallets of medical products.
CBP offloaded the shipment and discovered 120 packages of methamphetamine co-mingled with the medical supplies.
CBP ultimately seized 2,425 pounds of methamphetamine worth an estimated $5.5 million. The truck and trailer were also seized.
The truck driver, a 29 year old Mexican resident, was arrested and handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. He is facing federal charges related to drug trafficking.
“Most of what CBP officers see every day is legitimate travelers and legitimate cargo that needs to speed its way into the U.S. as a critical part of our economy.” said Anne Maricich, acting CBP Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “But CBP officers know that we must remain vigilant; transnational criminal organizations will attempt any avenue they can think of to try and smuggle their illicit drugs into the U.S.”