SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility discovered millions of dollars worth of methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of peppers and husk tomatoes.
CBP says on Tuesday night, officers encountered a 27-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
According to CBP, the man had a valid border crossing card and claimed to be hauling a shipment of peppers and husk tomatoes, also known as tomatillos.
Upon further examination in the secondary inspection area, a CBP K-9 unit alerted officers who went through the trailer.
Shipment of peppers and husk tomatoes found to contain methamphetamine at Otay Mesa Port of Entry. (Courtesy: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
According to CBP, one of its agriculture specialists discovered a box containing a crystal-like substance.
Further investigation by officers yielded a total of 3,594 packages from the shipment of peppers and husk tomatoes.
The contents were tested and identified as methamphetamine weighing 3,671.58 pounds with a street value of “millions of dollars” said a CBP statement.
“All CBP components are vital assets to our counternarcotics operations, providing proficient and layered detection capabilities,” said Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. “Our staff is dedicated to our mission and will continue to strengthen our ability to protect our communities and to curb the growth of transnational criminal organizations by applying officer’s skills and tools in our layered enforcement approach.”
The narcotics and commercial tractor-trailer were confiscated while the driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.
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