In a significant operation at the border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers seized a stash of fentanyl pills valued at more than $11 million. The bust went down at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on a Sunday evening, as a 37-year-old man attempted to enter the United States, driving a 2008 sedan from Mexico.
The discovery was made around 8:20 p.m., when a keen-nosed CBP K-9 alerted officers to the potential presence of drugs near the vehicle's glove compartment, this according to a CBP news release. The man was promptly referred, by CBP officers for a more thorough check.
During the intense secondary inspection, officers unearthed 100 packages packed with blue fentanyl pills cunningly hidden within the car's dashboard and the front passenger seats. Testing confirmed the pills were fentanyl, leading to a haul of about 561,000 pills, weighing a total of 123.6 pounds.
"Fentanyl is a very lethal drug that continues to be encountered along our southern border," said Mariza Marin, Port Director for the San Ysidro Port of Entry, as per the CBP news release. Marin further added, "I'm very proud of the exceptional work by our officers who skillfully interdict illicit narcotics on a daily basis." The driver was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations for further probing, and the narcotics, along with the vehicle, were seized by the CBP.
The interception is a part of the wider Operation Apollo, a collaborative regional task force involving federal, state, and local agencies aimed at combating fentanyl and other illicit synthetic narcotics threats. Those interested in learning more about Operation Apollo can find information via a dedicated online resource.
