U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in San Diego uncovered illicit narcotics valued at over $10 million concealed within a shipment of jalapeño paste last week, according to official statements.
The discovery unfolded at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility, where authorities encountered 349 packages immersed in jalapeño paste vats. The haul included over 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine and over 500 pounds of cocaine, as disclosed in a press release by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The suspicious cargo was located within a commercial tractor-trailer, driven by a 28-year-old male possessing a valid border crossing card. Customs and Border Protection officers, prompted by a K-9 inspection unit’s alert just after 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, scrutinized the jalapeño paste more closely.
Rosa Hernandez, Otay Mesa Port Director, emphasized the invaluable role of K-9 teams in counter-narcotics operations, providing a reliable and unmatched mobile detection capability.
The driver was subsequently handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further processing, officials reported.
This discovery follows a recent surge in drug interdictions in San Diego. In the previous month, the San Diego Field Office for U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over 14,000 pounds of narcotics at California’s land ports of entry.
You can also read: Brandon Smith Discovered Dead on Eve of Championship Game
Notably, this incident adds to a series of successful drug busts in San Diego this month. The U.S. Coast Guard, in separate events, confiscated over $239 million worth of cocaine from six distinct smuggling operations.