2.8 Tons Of Meth, Fentanyl Hidden In Shipment At Otay Mesa

SAN DIEGO, CA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced this week that officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility discovered 2.8 tons of methamphetamine and fentanyl powder hidden in a shipment of household articles.

"This is the largest methamphetamine drug-smuggling seizure along the southwest border to date," a news release said.

The drug bust happened at 5:24 p.m. Aug. 5, when officers encountered the driver of a tractor-trailer hauling a shipment of plastic household articles. During an inspection, an officer referred the driver and shipment to an "intensive examination," which included screenings by the port's imaging system and a canine team.

Officers searched the cargo and discovered 5,528 pounds of meth and 127 pounds of fentanyl powder in 414 packages, according to the CBP. The drugs were valued at more than $12.9 million.

The driver of the truck, a 53-year-old Mexican man, was arrested and taken to the Metropolitan Correctional Center, where he awaits federal charges, CBP officials said.

"This amount of fentanyl and methamphetamine is enough to ruin countless lives and fund transnational criminal organizations," said Pete Flores, director of field operations for CBP in San Diego. "I'm proud of our officers' efforts at all ports of entry within the San Diego Field Office to intercept this and all smuggling attempts."