By SDCN Editor
Otay Mesa, CA–U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility made a significant discovery on the evening of August 9, intercepting 629 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of celery.
The incident occurred when CBP officers encountered a 34-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer, seeking entry into the United States from Mexico. The driver, who held a valid border crossing card, was transporting a shipment declared as celery. Following routine procedures, officers directed the driver, the tractor-trailer, and its cargo to secondary inspection for a more thorough examination.
During the secondary inspection, the shipment of celery was offloaded for closer scrutiny. A CBP K-9 unit was brought in to screen the produce and quickly alerted officers to narcotics. Upon careful inspection, officers uncovered 508 packages hidden among the celery. Testing confirmed the packages contained methamphetamine, with a total weight of 629.72 pounds and an estimated street value of $755,000.
“Our officers’ vigilance and expertise once again thwarted an attempt to smuggle narcotics disguised as everyday produce,” said Rosa Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa. “This discovery underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from the perils of drug trafficking.”
CBP officers seized the narcotics and the commercial tractor-trailer involved in the smuggling attempt. The driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
The seizure is the result of Operation Apollo, a holistic counter-fentanyl effort that began on Oct. 26, 2023, in southern California, and expanded to Arizona on April 10. The operation focuses on intelligence collection and partnerships and local CBP field assets augmented by federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to boost resources, increase collaboration, and target the smuggling of fentanyl into the United States.
