CBP officers at the Calexico West Port of Entry snagged a big catch this Sunday — not in the form of fish, but methamphetamine hidden in an ice chest among aquatic catches, as reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Officers from the San Diego Field Office discovered around 8:39 p.m. after pulling a man driving a 2021 sedan over for further inspection despite using the vehicle SENTRI lane, often used for those prescreened for expedited border crossings.

In a scene of smuggling interception, the CBP conducted a secondary examination that revealed inconsistencies within the vehicle’s cargo. Subsequently, a CBP K-9 team was brought in and immediately alerted to the scent of narcotics. Officers unearthed 25 packages from the ice chest, which, after testing, were confirmed to be methamphetamine, weighing in at a staggering 47.13 pounds.

The 34-year-old driver was detained and is now in the hands of Homeland Security Investigations for further probing into the incident that resulted in the confiscation of both the narcotics and the vehicle by CBP officers, as detailed by area Port Director Roque Caza: "Drug traffickers will go to great lengths in attempt to deceive our officers. I’m proud of our highly trained officers working diligently every day to combat these dangerous drugs that have claimed so many lives."

This significant seizure ties in with Operation Apollo — the broad counter-fentanyl initiative targeting the trafficking of dangerous drugs into the U.S., which began last October. The ongoing operation harnesses the power of partnerships and intelligence collection to bolster local enforcement efforts against relentless smugglers trying to flood the states with illicit substances. This collaborative approach has CBP forces backed by federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, all aimed toward impeding the flow of fentanyl and, evidently, other narcotics like methamphetamine.