CBP seizes $21.1 million price of fentanyl capsules hid inside tractor-trailer carrying inexperienced beans


Officers with the U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP) intercepted greater than 3.5 million fentanyl capsules Monday night {that a} driver allegedly tried to smuggle by way of the southern border and into California.

In a press release launched Tuesday, CBP mentioned officers on the Otay Mesa port of entry discovered 3,520,000 fentanyl capsules hid inside a tractor-trailer that gave the impression to be transporting a cargo of inexperienced beans. The medicine are price an estimated road worth of $21,120,000, the CBP mentioned.

“On Monday, at roughly 7:21 p.m., CBP officers encountered a 48-year-old male driver of a tractor-trailer, with a cargo manifested as inexperienced beans. Through the preliminary inspection, a CBP officer referred the motive force and cargo load for an intensive agriculture inspection,” the assertion learn.

It continued: “A non-intrusive inspection was utilized to conduct a full scan of the tractor-trailer. After examination, irregularities had been noticed and CBP officers requested a CBP human/narcotic detector canine, who alerted CBP officers to the presence of narcotics.”

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CBP said officers at the Otay Mesa port of entry found 3,520,000 fentanyl pills during an inspection on Monday evening, April 17, 2023.

CBP mentioned officers on the Otay Mesa port of entry discovered 3,520,000 fentanyl capsules throughout an inspection on Monday night, April 17, 2023. (U.S. Customs and Border Safety)

The CBP officers found 308 complete packages, weighing 776.03 kilos, hid throughout the inexperienced beans. A narcotics check confirmed the capsules had been fentanyl.

“CBP acknowledges our officers’ distinctive efficiency and applaud their continued efforts to guard and serve our communities,” mentioned Rosa Hernandez, the port director on the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility. “This seizure supplies perception and shows how our officers work collectively in collaboration to maintain this harmful drug off the streets.”

A US Border Patrol agents monitor from a vehicle a section of the US-Mexico border wall near Otay Mesa between San Diego and Tijuana on January 12, 2022 in San Diego County, California. 

A US Border Patrol brokers monitor from a car a bit of the US-Mexico border wall close to Otay Mesa between San Diego and Tijuana on January 12, 2022 in San Diego County, California.  (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP through Getty Pictures)

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CBP officers detained the motive force for the alleged narcotic smuggling try. He was turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The tractor, trailer, and narcotics had been additionally all seized.

A vehicle drives along the US-Mexico border wall, a portion which remains uncompleted, near Otay Mesa between San Diego and Tijuana (R) on January 12, 2022 in San Diego County, California. 

A car drives alongside the US-Mexico border wall, a portion which stays uncompleted, close to Otay Mesa between San Diego and Tijuana (R) on January 12, 2022 in San Diego County, California.  (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP through Getty Pictures)

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Earlier within the week, CBP officers seized over $2.1 million price of cocaine at a port of entry in Del Rio, Texas.

“Our CBP officers have been doing excellent work and are dedicated to stopping these harmful medicine from getting into our nation,” mentioned Port Director Liliana Flores, Del Rio Port of Entry, referencing the incident that occurred on Wednesday, April 12. “This interception is a high-quality instance of the work they do to guard our communities.”

Peter Johnson