U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered more than $5 million worth of meth at the California border, the agency said in an Aug. 20 press release.
CBP officers stopped a 29-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility in San Diego on Aug. 16. He was attempting to enter the United States from Mexico when officers sent the man, vehicle and cargo for further examination and found 1,220 packages wrapped in green paper imitating a watermelon.
According to the CBP, the content inside the green paper was tested and found to be methamphetamine, totaling 4,587 pounds, with a street value above $5 million.
Authorities confiscated the drugs and commercial tractor-trailer while giving Homeland Security Investigations custody of the driver for further investigation.
“I am incredibly proud of our team for their exceptional work over the past few weeks in uncovering sophisticated and diverse smuggling methods,” said Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa.
CBP officials say this seizure is the outcome of Operation Apollo, a multi-agency law enforcement operation that started in October 2023. It focuses on collecting information and partnerships, increasing resources, and working with enforcement at all levels with the objective to stop the smuggling of fentanyl into the U.S.
“As drug cartels continue to evolve their smuggling techniques, we will continue finding new and better ways to prevent these dangerous drugs and other contraband from entering the country,” said Hernandez.