In a bust that could make a dent in the meth market, Customs and Border Protection officers at Otay Mesa Commercial Facility hit pay dirt when they uncovered a massive stash of methamphetamine cleverly concealed in foam pedestals. According to official reports, the discovery occurred last Thursday morning when a suspicious van rolled up to the port.
Driven by a 39-year-old man, the van was supposed to carry simple construction materials. During a meticulous inspection, things took a dramatic turn – CBP officers flagged the van for a more invasive search. Utilizing their non-intrusive scanning tech and with the help of a sharp-nosed K-9 unit, officers struck upon irregularities pointing to something far more nefarious than simple pedestals.
The officers went to town on the van, unearthing 218 packages hidden within the hollows of seven pedestals. When the field tests came back, the CBP's hunch was confirmed – it was methamphetamine, all 457 pounds of it, with a street value tagged at a cool $730,800. Rosa E. Hernandez, the Port Director for Otay Mesa Port of Entry, hailed the seizure, remarking, “Regardless of the conveyance type or merchandise being inspected, our officers have mastered identifying the latest smuggling trends.”
The driver hardly had time to regret his choices before he was detained and handed over to Homeland Security Investigations. The CBP snapped up both the van and the load of narcotics. Part of the larger Operation Apollo, a joint task force operation, turned towards the scourge of synthetic narcotics flooding the streets.
