By SDCN Editor
Otay Mesa, CA–U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry uncovered 124 pounds of methamphetamine hidden within a truck on June 17.
According to CBP, the contraband was concealed in the spare tire, gas tank, quarter panels, and passenger side doors.
CBP officers encountered a 63-year-old man driving a 2007 pickup truck attempting to enter the United States from Mexico at 12:31 a.m. After an initial inspection, officers referred the vehicle and its driver for a more thorough examination.
A CBP K-9 unit performed a cursory inspection of the truck and alerted officers to the narcotics. Upon further investigation, officers discovered and extracted 102 packages hidden in various parts of the truck. Tests confirmed the packages contained methamphetamine.
“This interception underscores the officers’ continued diligence and commitment to national security,” said Rosa Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa. “I am extremely proud of our officers’ exceptional ability to remain steadfast and vigilant while carrying out our mission and keeping our communities safe.”
The narcotics and truck were seized, and the driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
The seizure is part of Operation Apollo, a comprehensive counter-fentanyl initiative that began on October 26, 2023, in Southern California and expanded to Arizona on April 10. Operation Apollo focuses on intelligence collection and partnerships, utilizing local CBP field assets along with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to enhance resources, increase collaboration, and target the smuggling of fentanyl into the United States.
