U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers earlier this month seized more than $12 million worth of narcotics concealed in a shipment of heavy machinery gears at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
Officers referred a 37-year-old truck driver for further inspection on Aug.5 at 9:16 a.m. after applying for entry into the United States, the agency reported. Officials said the man presented a valid Border Crossing card in order to cross with a 2009 Freightliner truck with a shipment manifested as heavy machinery gears.
A human/narcotics detector dog alerted authorities of one of the mechanical gears within the shipment, which had inconsistent work done compared to the rest in the shipment. After further inspection, CBP officers seized 362 packages of cocaine, weighing nearly 871 pounds, and 18 packages containing fentanyl, weighing nearly 42 pounds, with an estimated street value of $12.8 million from inside the heavy machinery.
Authorities said the driver was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further processing. Officers seized the narcotics along with the truck and trailer.
