At the Otay Mesa Point of Entry, a routine inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers evolved into a significant drug seizure, as they discovered a mix of illegal narcotics stashed within a vehicle's muffler. According to a CBP newsroom release, the haul included 4.62 pounds of fentanyl powder, 7.71 pounds of black tar heroin, 2.46 pounds of brown powder heroin, and 2.11 pounds of cocaine, amounting to a total of 16.9 pounds. The incident happened early morning on Thursday when a 2003 sedan driven by a 28-year-old man entered the checkpoint from Mexico.
The encounter with the vehicle occurred approximately at 4:30 a.m. when CBP officers conducting primary operations became suspicious, a K-9 team signaling the possible presence of narcotics. Following the dog's alert, officers moved the man and his vehicle to a secondary inspection area. During this meticulous examination, including a full vehicle scan using non-intrusive technology, officers noticed something about the muffler on the sedan's undercarriage.
Port Director Rosa E. Hernandez commented on the seizure, as per the CBP newsroom, “Our CBP officers successfully intercepted a significant narcotics seizure ingeniously concealed within a vehicle’s muffler,” and added, "This singular event highlights the innovative, yet desperate measures used by drug trafficking organizations. Our dedicated officers remain vigilant, continuing to safeguard our communities from the dangers of illicit drugs.”
The driver of the sedan was handed over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation, and the drugs, as well as the vehicle, were seized. The recent confiscation of drugs is part of Operation Apollo, a broader counter-fentanyl measure, according to a CBP statement. The counter-narcotics operation has been active in Southern California since October 26, 2023, and expanded to Arizona on April 10, 2024. CBP states that Operation Apollo employs a comprehensive approach focusing on partnerships, intelligence collection, and the leveraging of both local and extended federal resources in the battle against fentanyl smuggling into the United States.
