U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility discovered 361 pounds of fentanyl and cocaine hidden within a flatbed trailer.
On the morning of August 9, CBP officers encountered a 44-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer with an empty flatbed trailer applying for entry from Mexico into the United States at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility. The driver, a valid border crossing card holder, was referred for further examination by CBP officers along with the tractor -trailer.
In the secondary inspection area, CBP officers utilized non-intrusive inspection technology to screen the tractor-trailer, revealing anomalies. A CBP K-9 team responded and screened the flatbed trailer alerting officers to the presence of narcotics.
After an intensive examination, CBP officers discovered packages hidden in a non-factory compartment within the frame of the flatbed trailer. A total of 77 packages of cocaine weighing 227.96 pounds and 50 packages of fentanyl powder weighing 133.60 pounds were extracted by CBP officers.
“This record-setting seizure is a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against drug trafficking.” stated Rosa Hernandez CBP Port Director for the Area Ports of Otay Mesa. “Concealing such a staggering quantity of fentanyl and cocaine within a flatbed trailer shows the lengths traffickers will go and further showcases the exceptional vigilance and hard work our officers perform on a daily basis.”
The subject was turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation. The narcotics, semi-truck, and trailer were seized by CBP officers.
