Border Agents Seize Over $40 Million Worth Of Meth In Two Major Busts

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers had themselves a heck of a week this week as they seized over 4,000 pounds of meth worth over $40 million in two major busts conducted on the same day.

On Tuesday, the CBP Office of Field Operation officers assigned to the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas discovered a load of alleged methamphetamine with a street value of approximately $8,493,968.

This seizure occurred when a CBP officer pulled over a 2021 Volvo tractor and trailer for secondary inspection.

The truck was supposed to be carrying a commercial shipment of celery, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Instead, following a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination, the CBP officers found 923 pounds of meth.

“Optimal targeting efforts were keen in foiling this drug smuggling attempt,” Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry, said in a press release. “CBP personnel are persistent in protecting our Nation against dangerous and prohibited narcotics that pose a threat to our communities.”

Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers over at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility in California were checking out a shipment of peppers and tomatillos when they discovered 3,671.58 pounds of alleged meth.

The methamphetamine was found concealed inside 3,594 packages that were loaded on to a commercial tractor-trailer after a CBP K-9 unit screened the shipment and alerted officers.

The driver of the truck, a 27-year-old male, was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.

The drugs that were seized had an approximate street value of $33,787,955.

“All CBP components are vital assets to our counternarcotics operations, providing proficient and layered detection capabilities,” Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, said in a statement. “Our staff is dedicated to our mission and will continue to strengthen our ability to protect our communities and to curb the growth of transnational criminal organizations by applying officer’s skills and tools in our layered enforcement approach.”

This seizure was part of Operation Apollo, which the CBP describes as “a joint regional operation comprised of federal, state, and local agencies working to combat the threat from fentanyl and other illicit synthetic narcotics.”