Drug Bust in Jalapeno Paste Shipment

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers made an interesting discovery at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility. A shipment, seemingly innocent with its contents listed as jalapeno paste, held a shady secret.

A 28-year-old male driver, holding a valid border crossing card, steered a commercial tractor-trailer into the facility on December 13. However, his cargo was about to unveil a massive narcotics haul.

Key Discovery:

• K-9 Unit Alert: The CBP's trained dogs signaled, leading officers to a more thorough check.
• Hidden Packages: Hidden within the jalapeno paste, officers found 349 packages containing a staggering 3,161.43 pounds of methamphetamine and 522.50 pounds of cocaine.

Aftermath:

Rosa Hernandez, Otay Mesa Port Director, highlighted the vital role of K-9 teams in such operations. This bust forms part of a larger effort, including Operation Apollo and strategies to combat synthetic drugs.

Outcome:

• Seizure: The narcotics, along with the vehicle, were seized.
• Estimated Value: The street value of the drugs is estimated at over $10 million.
• Driver's Fate: The driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further processing.

In context, this seizure is part of CBP's ongoing efforts in narcotics control. In November alone, the San Diego Field Office seized over 14,000 pounds of narcotics.

Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Press Release