CBP finds $61M worth of drugs in loads of cactus and limes

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently seized almost 600 packages of methamphetamine and 14,880 pounds of marijuana at the Otay Mesa border crossing, CBP officials announced Wednesday.

“International drug trafficking organizations will use whatever means they can think of to try and move their illicit shipments into the U.S.,” said Pete Flores, director of field operations for CBP in San Diego.

On Friday, a tractor-trailer arrived at the Otay Mesa cargo facility from Mexico with a shipment of cactus. CBP officers searched the crates of cactus and found 590 packages containing about 668 pounds of methamphetamine. The narcotics have an estimated street value of $1.5 million.

Later the same day, officers were inspecting another tractor-trailer from Mexico that was hauling limes. They found 622 packages inside the boxes, containing 14,880 pounds of marijuana. The narcotics have an estimated street value of almost $60 million.

Officials seized the drugs in both incidents, but did not disclose whether the drivers were arrested.

Click for more FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney.

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