CBP Officers Seize 3,078 Pounds Methamphetamine at Otay Mesa
Summary
CBP officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility in San Diego seized 3,078.10 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $4,924,960 on April 14, 2026. The drugs were concealed within the front wall of a cargo trailer whose manifest listed the commodity as corrugated cardboard boxes. A 2017 Freightliner Cascadia tractor and trailer, driven by a 31-year-old male Mexican citizen, was referred for secondary inspection where a non-intrusive inspection and canine alert led to the discovery of 300 packages of crystal meth.
“CBP Officers Seize Over 3,000 Pounds of Methamphetamine at Otay Mesa Commercial Facility”
Customs brokers and freight forwarders filing entries at Otay Mesa and similar commercial ports of entry should ensure all shipment descriptions are accurate and fully documented. CBP's combined use of non-intrusive inspection imaging and detector canine screening on secondary referrals demonstrates active interdiction capability targeting concealment in commercial cargo. A manifest misrepresentation listing corrugated cardboard boxes while transporting concealed contraband creates civil fraud exposure and potential criminal liability for parties in the supply chain with knowledge of or deliberate ignorance regarding the contents.
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What changed
CBP officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility completed a significant drug seizure, recovering 3,078.10 pounds of methamphetamine estimated at $4,924,960 from a cargo trailer on April 14, 2026. The shipment's manifest falsely listed corrugated cardboard boxes as the commodity; the drugs were discovered concealed within the trailer's front wall following a non-intrusive inspection and a canine alert. A 31-year-old male Mexican citizen driver and his 2017 Freightliner Cascadia were referred to secondary inspection, resulting in the seizure and removal of 300 packages of contraband from the commercial stream of trade.\n\nCommercial importers, freight carriers, and logistics companies operating at U.S. land ports of entry should be aware that CBP is actively employing non-intrusive inspection technology and detector canine teams to examine commercial cargo suspected of concealment. Carriers and customs brokers bear responsibility for the accuracy of shipment declarations; material misrepresentations in manifests may expose parties to civil and criminal liability beyond the immediate seizure of contraband.
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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- CBP Officers Seize Over 3,000 Pounds of Methamphetamine at Otay Mesa Commercial Facility
CBP Officers Seize Over 3,000 Pounds of Methamphetamine at Otay Mesa Commercial Facility
Release Date Thu, 04/23/2026 Crystal meth estimated at nearly $5 million
SAN DIEGO — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility seized over 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $4,924,960, concealed within a cargo trailer. The shipment manifest had listed the commodity as corrugated cardboard boxes.
On April 14, CBP officers referred a 2017 Freightliner Cascadia tractor, its trailer, and the 31-year-old male Mexican citizen driver for secondary inspection.
A nonintrusive inspection revealed anomalies within the trailer's front wall, and a CBP canine alerted officers to the same area. A physical inspection uncovered 300 packages containing a crystal-like substance wrapped in clear plastic. The packages tested positive for methamphetamine, totaling 3,078.10 pounds.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility seized over 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $4,924,960, concealed within a cargo trailer. The shipment manifest had listed the commodity as corrugated cardboard boxes.
"Our CBP officers at ports of entry are unwavering guardians," said Otay Mesa Port Director Rosa E. Hernandez. “Their diligence prevented illegal narcotics from entering our country, so our communities are kept safe from dangerous drugs."
Supported by the strong leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, CBP officers across the Southwest border are empowered to stop illegal activity while processing millions of legitimate travelers into the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 67,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.
- Topics
- Border Security
- Cargo Security
- CBP Officers
- Drug Seizure
- Drug Trafficking
- Enforcement
- Methamphetamine
Smuggling
Last Modified: Apr 23, 2026Media Contacts
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