In Otay Mesa, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized an unprecedented amount of cocaine and fentanyl.
On August 9, CBP agents made history with the largest fentanyl bust of the fiscal year when they discovered 360 pounds of narcotics and cocaine concealed in a flatbed trailer.
Authorities from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) say that at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility, they stopped a 44-year-old man trying to enter the US in a commercial tractor-trailer that had an empty flatbed.
As a result of their thorough search, CBP agents discovered 77 shipments of cocaine totaling over 220 pounds and 50 shipments of fentanyl powder weighing over 133 pounds.
“This record-setting seizure is a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against drug trafficking,” said Rosa Hernandez Port Director for the Area Ports of Otay Mesa. “Concealing such a staggering quantity of fentanyl and cocaine within a flatbed trailer shows the lengths traffickers will go and further showcases the exceptional vigilance and hard work our officers perform on a daily basis.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was granted custody of the truck driver suspect.
According to CBP, the record-breaking narcotics seizure occurred in October 2023 as part of Operation Apollo, a department-wide counter-fentanyl effort. Beginning in Southern California, the operation was then extended to Arizona.