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U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP) officers at an Otay Mesa business facility discovered greater than $3 million of cocaine hidden in a cargo of lemons on Thursday.
Otay Mesa is within the southern a part of San Diego, simply north of the border between the US and Mexico.
In line with a CBP press launch, “At roughly 11:22 p.m., CBP officers encountered a 42-year-old man driving a business tractor-trailer carrying what gave the impression to be a cargo of Persian limes. The driving force, a sound border crossing card holder, was referred for additional investigation by CBP officers together with the tractor-trailer and cargo.
On the secondary inspection space, the Okay-9 unit alerted officers, prompting them to look at the cargo extra carefully.
“Upon additional investigation, CBP officers found and eliminated a complete of 158 suspicious packages,” the press launch stated. “The contents of the packages had been examined and recognized as cocaine, which weighed 435 kilos and had an estimated road worth of $3,355,800.”
“All topics had been turned over to the custody of Homeland Safety Investigations for additional processing,” CBP stated. The narcotics, semi-truck, and trailer had been seized by CBP officers.
“Rain or shine, officers work tirelessly to make sure our group is freed from these harmful medication,” stated Rosa Hernandez, Port Director of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. “I’m happy with the efforts our officers make day and evening.”
The restoration of cocaine was a part of Operation Apollo.
“Operation Apollo is a joint regional operation involving federal, state, and native businesses working to fight the specter of fentanyl and different illicit artificial narcotics,” CBP stated. “Extra details about Operation Apollo may be discovered right here.”