Otay Mesa CBP Officers Intercept Third Meth Smuggling Attempt in One Week: 2,400 Pounds

OTAY MESA, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Otay Mesa commercial facility intercepted 2,421 pounds of methamphetamine hidden within a shipment of plastic parts.  It’s the third seizure of more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine within the same week.

The incident occurred on Friday, May 21, at approximately 4:45 p.m. when CBP officers referred a truck driver for an intensive examination as he entered the United States.

CBP officers utilized the port’s imaging system to perform a non-intrusive inspection of the shipment listing plastic parts on the manifest and anomalies were observed. While parked at the dock, a canine team screened the shipment and a detector dog alerted to one of the boxes located within the truck. CBP officers searched the shipment and discovered 120 packages of methamphetamine concealed within the shipment of plastic parts, with an estimated street value of $5.5 million.

The 25-year-old Mexican citizen was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt. CBP turned the driver over to the custody of agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further disposition.

CBP officers seized the narcotics and conveyance.

This seizure follows two other incidents in the same week at the same commercial border crossing. The first one was on May 15, when CBP officers discovered close to 2,500 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a shipment of medical supplies.  The second one occurred on May 18, when more than 1,100 pounds of methamphetamine were found hidden within a shipment of watermelons. 

“These record-setting seizures at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry has dealt a significant blow to drug trafficking organizations operation in the region,” said Anne Maricich, Acting CBP Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “These criminals should take notice that our CBP officers will work diligently to disrupt all types of drug smuggling attempts at our ports of entry.”