EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — Border officers foiled an attempt to smuggle meth concealed in a shipment of squash.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that a shipment, listed as squash, arrived at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility shortly before 7 a.m. on Monday.
During a thorough inspection of the tractor-trailer, which included an X-ray scan, officers noticed irregularities and deployed a drug-sniffing dog.
CBP said the dog alerted officers to the presence of narcotics. Officers discovered 1,419 packages that tested positive for methamphetamine hidden within the squash shipment. The drugs weighed 11,469 pounds and had an estimated street value of $18,350,400, according to CBP.
Rosa E. Hernandez, the Otay Mesa Area Port Director, issued a statement praising the officers.
The tractor-trailer’s driver, described only as a 44-year-old, is now in the custody of Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) for further probe. CBP confiscated the meth and the vehicle.
CBP stated that the seizure is part of Operation Apollo, a comprehensive counter-fentanyl initiative that started last October in Southern California and extended to Arizona in April.
