U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in San Diego recently intercepted more than 1400 pounds of methamphetamine from a tractor trailer crossing the border from Mexico.
The drug bust occurred around 5:30 p.m. on December 1 at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility in San Diego as a 43 year old truck driver from Mexico attempted to enter the U.S. with a shipment of carrots.
The truck driver, a valid border crossing card holder, was referred for a secondary inspection.
A canine unit alerted to the presence of narcotics in the truck’s shipment of carrots.
CBP officers inspected the load and found 628 packages hidden in the pallets of carrots.
The substance in the packages tested positive for methamphetamine.
In total, CBP seized 1,435.19 pounds of methamphetamine an estimated street value of $3,013,899.
CBP seized the truck, trailer, and drugs.
The truck driver was handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations for processing.
“These types of narcotic interceptions play a critical role in our border security mission,” said Rosa Hernandez, Otay Mesa Port Director. “Our officers will continue to remain vigilant working hard to detect these smuggling techniques, stopping the negative impact that narcotics have, while also preventing the proceeds from funding transnational criminal organizations.”