OTAY MESA, CALIFORNIA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized nearly $5 million worth of methamphetamine from a semi-truck trailer this month after a secondary inspection at the Otay Mesa commercial crossing uncovered thousands of pounds of narcotics hidden inside the trailer’s front wall.
The seizure happened April 14, 2026, when a 31-year-old Mexican citizen arrived from Mexico at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility, also identified in reporting as the Otay Mesa Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility, driving a 2017 Freightliner Cascadia tractor with an attached trailer.
Secondary Inspection Uncovered Hidden Meth Load
According to CBP, the truck was hauling a shipment manifested as corrugated cardboard boxes when it was referred for secondary inspection.
Officials said nonintrusive imaging technology revealed anomalies in the trailer’s front wall. A CBP canine then alerted officers to that same area.
During a physical inspection, officers found 300 packages of methamphetamine concealed in the trailer’s front wall.
CBP said the seized meth weighed 3,078.10 pounds, or nearly 1.4 tons, and had an estimated street value of $4,924,960.
Smuggling Attempt Tied to Trade-Lane Concealment Tactics
CBP said transnational criminal organizations routinely try to exploit legitimate trade infrastructure by hiding narcotics inside otherwise lawful cargo and using misleading manifests to move drugs into the United States.
Officials said the case reflects how ordinary shipping paperwork and legal freight channels can be used to try to move industrial-scale narcotics loads through busy ports of entry that process large volumes of lawful commerce every day.
The agency said officers are trained to identify indicators of illicit activity and remain vigilant in detecting and interdicting illegal narcotics entering the country.
Broader Investigation Turned Over to HSI
The case has been turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation. HSI is expected to investigate the broader network behind the smuggling attempt.
Otay Mesa Port Director Rosa E. Hernandez praised the officers involved.
“Our CBP officers at ports of entry are unwavering guardians,” Hernandez said. “Their diligence prevented illegal narcotics from entering our country, so our communities are kept safe from dangerous drugs.”
A longer version of her statement also said the officers’ work was supported by the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
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