Meth smuggler’s ruse fails to trick border agents in California

U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Thursday announced the seizure of over $3.2 million worth of methamphetamine found inside a tractor-trailer at the California-Mexico border.

On Oct. 3, CBP officers encountered a 40-year-old man attempting to enter the U.S. from Mexico in an empty commercial tractor-trailer. The driver, who holds a valid border crossing card, was referred for secondary inspection after initial checks raised concerns, officials said.

During the inspection, “non-intrusive screening technology” scanned the trailer and revealed anomalies in the floor frame. According to CBP, a K-9 unit then alerted officers to the presence of narcotics.

A physical search of the trailer uncovered 265 packages concealed within the floor frame of the vehicle. The packages contained approximately 2,686 pounds of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of over $3.2 million, CBP said.

“I am extremely proud of our dedicated workforce,” said Rosa E. Hernandez, port director for the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. “Our officers are always vigilant and work hard to ensure our border security is not compromised and to protect our communities from dangerous drugs.”

The methamphetamine and the truck were seized by CBP, and the driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further inquiry.

This bust is part of Operation Apollo, an initiative launched in October 2023 to combat the smuggling of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into the U.S.

In two separate incidents last month, authorities pulled over vehicles on the 5 Freeway near Camp Pendleton, turning up nearly 1 million fentanyl pills along with other hard drugs.

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