CBP officers seize drugs concealed in carrot shipment

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility in San Diego have intercepted suspected packages of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of carrots, according to a news release.

On March 17, at approximately 11:48 a.m., CBP officers encountered a 44-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer hauling a shipment manifested as carrots, the release said. The driver, a valid border-crossing card holder, was referred for further examination by CBP officers along with the tractor, trailer and shipment, CBP said.

In the secondary inspection area, the shipment of carrots was unloaded onto a dock for inspection. CBP officers examined each box and discovered suspicious packages concealed underneath the packaged carrots. The contents of the packages were tested and identified as methamphetamine, the release said.

Officers more closely inspected a shipment of carrots and discovered 574 suspected packages of methamphetamine, weighing approximately 2,900 pounds, which were extracted from the shipment, CBP said. The estimated street value of the methamphetamine is in the millions of dollars, the release said.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the exceptional work by our CBP officers,” Rosa E. Hernandez, port director for Otay Mesa Port of Entry, said in the release. “While facilitating lawful trade and travel, our officers steadfastly combat the trafficking of dangerous drugs at our borders.”