The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Otay Mesa Commercial Facility discovered a massive haul of methamphetamine disguised within a shipment of celery. The bust, which occurred on the evening of August 9, resulted in the interception of 629 pounds of the drug, according to a CBP press release.
Driving a commercial tractor-trailer, a 34-year-old man was scrutinized after a CBP K-9 unit alerted officers while screening the celery shipment during a routine secondary inspection. Misplaced amid the leafy greens, officers uncovered 508 packages of methamphetamine. The narcotics, testing positive as meth, tipped the scales at 629.72 pounds with an estimated street value of around $755,000, according to CBP officials.
"Our officers' vigilance and expertise once again thwarted an attempt to smuggle narcotics disguised as everyday produce," said Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa. The driver, who had a valid border crossing card when trying to enter the United States from Mexico, was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further probing, per CBP press release.
Officials seized the tractor-trailer and the illicit cargo as part of an ongoing initiative named Operation Apollo. Starting in Southern California on Oct. 26, 2023, the operation expanded to Arizona as of April 10, focusing on intelligence collection and partnerships to combat narcotics smuggling. Misplaced after a long journey, meant to ensure the drugs' safe passage, the smuggling attempt was nipped in the bud, "This discovery underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from the perils of drug trafficking", added Hernandez in the CBP statement.
