By San Diego County News
San Diego, CA–U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility in San Diego on December 8 found over $3 million worth of methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of carrots.
According to CBP, a 43-year-old truck driver applied for entry into the United States from Mexico. The driver, a valid border crossing card holder, was referred for further examination by CBP officers along with the tractor-trailer, and shipment. At the inspection area, a CBP human and narcotic detector dog screened the shipment and alerted officers to the presence of narcotics within the pallets of carrots.
During the inspection, officers discovered and extracted a total of 628 packages concealed within the shipment of carrots. The narcotics were tested and identified as methamphetamine with a combined weight of approximately 1,435.19 pounds, and an estimated street value of $3,013,899.
“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.”
Officers transferred custody of the driver to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations for further processing.
The CBP seized the tractor, trailer, and narcotics.
