On August 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa commercial cargo facility made a significant discovery, intercepting 629 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of celery.

 

The incident occurred when a 34-year-old man, driving a tractor-trailer, attempted to enter the United States from Mexico. The driver, who held a valid border crossing card, was transporting a load declared as celery. Following routine procedures, CBP officers referred the driver, the tractor-trailer, and its cargo for a secondary inspection to conduct a more thorough examination.

 

 

 

 

During this inspection, the celery shipment was unloaded for closer scrutiny. A CBP K-9 unit alerted officers to the presence of narcotics, leading to the discovery of 508 packages hidden among the celery. Tests confirmed that the packages contained methamphetamine, with a total weight of 629.72 pounds and an estimated street value of $755,000.

 

CBP officers seized the narcotics and the tractor-trailer involved in the smuggling attempt. The driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.