On May 21, 2021 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. The drugs are worth $5.5 million.
Customs officers referred a truck driver for an intensive examination as he entered the United States via a border checkpoint.
Officers utilized the port’s imaging system to perform a non-intrusive inspection of the shipment listing plastic parts on the manifest. 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. 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 truck driver citizen was arrested for the narcotic smuggling attempt. The driver was turned over to the custody of agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
