U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted over 1,500 pounds of illegal drugs during three separate smuggling attempts at California's Tecate Port of Entry in mid-February.
The seizures occurred between February 11-17, with officers discovering large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine concealed in various vehicles attempting to cross the border.
In the first incident on February 11, officers stopped a 72-year-old man driving a red SUV. After detecting irregularities during inspection, a K9 unit located 100 packages containing 302 pounds of methamphetamine hidden within the vehicle's doors, fenders and spare tire.
Just two days later, CBP officers intercepted a tractor-trailer driven by a 30-year-old man at the Tecate Cargo Facility. A thorough search revealed 65 packages stashed in the trailer's flatbed, containing 697 pounds of methamphetamine and 73 pounds of cocaine.
The final bust occurred on February 17, when another commercial vehicle attempted to cross. A drug-sniffing dog alerted officers to 38 packages of methamphetamine weighing 437 pounds concealed in the floor of a flatbed trailer.
Rosa Hernandez, director of the Otay Mesa and Tecate ports of entry, praised the work of the CBP officers and their canine partners in disrupting these smuggling operations. All drivers involved were arrested and transferred to U.S. Homeland Security Investigations for further processing.
The successful operations highlight the ongoing challenges faced by border protection officers in preventing drug trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border. Recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveals a shifting landscape in drug trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border. California remains the primary entry point for methamphetamine, while fentanyl smuggling routes appear to be moving eastward. The total street value of the seized narcotics was not disclosed.