CBP seizes $2.5M in meth hidden in tomatillo truck at Otay Mesa; driver’s visa canceled
Nearly 1,600 pounds of narcotics, a federal investigation and an unexpected development involving the trucker. New details obtained by FreightWaves reveal what happened after the seizure.
A tractor-trailer carrying fresh tomatillos arrived at California’s Otay Mesa port of entry from Mexico on October 14. The commercial shipment had a delivery destination in the United States. During an inspection, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered nearly 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine mixed with the produce. Authorities estimated the narcotics’ street value at approximately $2.5 million.
Federal officials also took immigration action against the truck driver. CBP confirmed that authorities served the motorist with a visa cancellation. The agency cited Section 212(a)(2)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act as the legal basis. That provision concerns individuals whom authorities know or have reason to believe participated in illicit drug trafficking.
The statute also covers individuals who knowingly assisted, conspired in or colluded with traffickers. Immigration authorities can apply this provision without securing a criminal conviction. However, CBP has not disclosed what evidence supported the driver’s visa cancellation. Investigators have not publicly established whether the driver knowingly participated in transporting the narcotics.
CBP announced the discovery on October 16 during a news conference involving multiple federal law enforcement agencies. Participants included the Office of Field Operations, Border Patrol, Air and Marine Operations, and Homeland Security Investigations. The original announcement did not disclose any action against the driver.
This story was originally published by FreightWaves. Read the full story at FreightWaves →
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