Border agents at Tecate Port of Entry seized a monster haul of narcotics stashed in what looked like ordinary cargo. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers uncovered meth and cocaine with a street value north of $2 million hidden in a shipment of what was supposed to be resin shelves, according to officials.
The cunning plot was foiled last Thursday when a 56-year-old man, behind the wheel of your average box truck, tried to roll through the commercial facility. A CBP officer flagged the suspicious shipment for a more thorough check. It was during the deeper dive that the CBP team discovered after a K-9 unit signaled drugs were onboard.
Border hawks used non-intrusive inspection methods, and when things looked fishy, a K-9 enforcement team was called to sniff out the truth. The highly-trained canine didn't disappoint, hitting on the scent of narcotics that led to the hidden stash. The contraband was ingeniously concealed inside hollowed compartments within the shelves.
CBP officers ultimately extricated 66 packages, filled to the brim with illicit substances: 1,138.73 pounds of meth and another 24.69 pounds of coke. "Our CBP officers possess the ability to adapt, anticipate, and eventually uncover even the most cunning tactics," said Port Director Rosa E. Hernandez of Otay Mesa Port of Entry. "Regardless of the size of the conveyance or concealment method, our officers are keen at discovering even the most minute inconsistencies."
The driver didn’t get far, ending up in cuffs and in the hands of Homeland Security Investigations for a long chat about his cargo. The truck and the narcotics found their new home in police custody. This impressive bust is part of Operation Apollo which aims a laser-focused effort on stymieing the flow of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs courtesy of collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies.
