On Oct. 9, 2020 in San Diego, CA more than 3,100 pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, fentanyl pills, and heroin were seized as part of the second largest methamphetamine bust along the southwest border.
A 47-year-old male Mexican citizen driver arrived at the Otay Mesa cargo border crossing with a tractor-trailer shipment that was manifested as medical supplies. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer decided to refer the driver, truck, and shipment for a more intensive inspection.
Officers screened the truck using the port’s imaging system, similar to an x-ray, and found anomalies in the rear of the trailer. The conveyance was sent to the dock and a canine alerted to the boxes inside the trailer.
Officers offloaded the shipment and discovered 1,816 packages co-mingled with the medical supplies that primarily contained clear plastic pipette tips, spray bottles of surface decontaminate, and calibrated pipette tools (used for sampling and dispensing liquid).
Officers later extracted approximately 3,014 pounds of methamphetamine, 64 pounds of heroin, 29 pounds of fentanyl powder, and almost 37 pounds of fentanyl pills, worth an estimated $7.2 million.
Officers seized the narcotics and conveyance. The driver was arrested and turned over to the custody of the DEA.
