Customs and Border Protection officers seized 56 packages of cocaine weighing over140 pounds on Sept. 7. Photo: Customs and Border Protection

By SDCN Staff 

San Diego, CA–U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in the San Diego Field Office thwarted the smuggling of $4 million dollars worth of narcotics in the first week of September.

The recent interceptions totaled over 820 pounds and come on the heels of other noteworthy narcotics seizures reported at ports of entry along the southern California border in August.

“Narcotic interdictions remain a high priority at the San Diego Field Office ports of entry as demonstrated by these significant seizures within the first week of September,” said Anne Maricich, Customs and Border Protection Acting Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “Our officers will continue to take every opportunity to prevent these harmful narcotics from reaching our communities while simultaneously facilitating legitimate trade and travel.”

Officers used their training, experience, and an array of available assets to intercept eight vehicles used to smuggle various dangerous drugs into the U.S. 

Officers at the ports of entry used K-9 teams and imaging systems to discover the following:

  • September 1- 5 packages of fentanyl, weighing 13.49 pounds, from a female driver at the San Ysidro port of entry.
  • September 2 – 6 packages of methamphetamine, weighing 52.43 pounds, were seized from a male driver at the San Ysidro port of entry.
  • September 3 – 119 packages of methamphetamine, weighing 126.10 pounds, from a female driver at the Otay Mesa port of entry.
  • September 3 – 60 packages of methamphetamine, weighing 63.88 pounds, were seized from a male driver at the San Ysidro port of entry.
  • September 4 – 48 packages of methamphetamine, weighing 53.17 pounds, two packages of fentanyl, weighing 5.07 pounds, and a package of heroin, weighing 2.38 pounds, from a female driver at the San Ysidro port of entry.
  • September 6 – 88 packages of methamphetamine, weighing 137.03 pounds, and nine packages of fentanyl, weighing 12.47 pounds, from a male driver at the San Ysidro port of entry.
  • September 6 – 79 packages of methamphetamine, weighing 215.71 pounds, and 13 pills of fentanyl, weighing 0.0026 pounds, from a male driver at the Calexico West port of entry.
  • September 7 – 56 packages of cocaine, weighing 141.40 pounds, from a male driver at the Otay Mesa port of entry.

The methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin have a combined estimated street value of $4 million.

All occupants were turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations for further processing.

Officers seized the narcotics and vehicles.