SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say officers made their second-largest meth bust along the southern border in history last week.
On Oct. 9, officers stopped a driver at about 9:45 a.m. at the Otay Mesa commercial facility who was crossing with a tractor-trailer shipment manifested as medical supplies. The truck was referred to further inspection, where the truck was screened using an imaging system and canine officers.
Officers detected irregularities in the rear of the trailer and say they found 1,816 packages comingled with medical supplies of spray bottles and pipette tools. CBP said those packages contained about 3,014 pounds of methamphetamine, 64 pounds of heroin, 29 pounds of fentanyl powder, and almost 37 pounds of fentanyl pills, worth an estimated $7.2 million.
The meth seized in the vehicle stop is the second-largest meth bust in agency history, according to CBP.
"This massive seizure is testament of what law enforcement agencies can do when we combine forces – prevent over $7 million worth of deadly drugs from entering our country; thus saving countless lives from addiction and overdose deaths," said DEA Special Agent in Charge John Callery. "DEA cherishes our great law enforcement partners in San Diego, especially those who work tirelessly to protect our nation’s borders. We will continue to work together to disrupt drug trafficking organizations at every opportunity we are given."
The driver, a 47–year-old male Mexican citizen, was arrested and turned over to the joint custody of ICE, Homeland Security, and DEA to face criminal charges.
