Customs and Border Protection officers hit the motherlode, intercepting a drug and weapons stash in a single vehicle at San Ysidro Port of Entry. In an unassuming 2019 SUV, a 38-year-old woman tried to smuggle a staggering mix of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, along with three handguns, into the United States from Mexico.
It was close to 10:40 p.m. on Monday when the CBP team, conducting routine checks, stopped the woman's SUV. A quick inspection revealed several concealed packages, prompting the officers to call for backup and a more detailed examination, as reported by CBP’s local media release.
The secondary inspection area's x-ray imaging technology and a K9 unit's nose were all it took to uncover the contraband's cunningly disguised hiding spots – the vehicle's firewall, rear seats, spare tire, and trunk. In total, 103 packages of illegal substances were confiscated, weighing in at 126.4 pounds and with an estimated street value of $885,460.00.
"Another outstanding interdiction by our CBP officers," exclaimed Mariza Marin, Port Director of the San Ysidro Port of Entry. She commended her team for balancing processing legitimate traffic and catching these illicit goods. The subject was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations while CBP seized the narcotics, firearms, and the vehicle. The CBP statement credited the seizure as part of Operation Apollo, highlighting a commitment by various agencies to combat the onslaught of fentanyl and other synthetic narcotics.
Details on Operation Apollo’s scope and success can be found on CBP's official website, and updates from the San Diego Field Office are regularly posted by the Director @DFOSanDiegoCA on X.
