OTAY MESA, CA - Green beans have become the next fresh produce item to have the misfortune to cross paths with criminals. The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa port of entry recently intercepted 3,520,000 fentanyl pills concealed within a shipment of green beans, worth an estimated street value of $21,120,000.
“CBP recognizes our officers’ exceptional performance and applauds their continued efforts to protect and serve our communities,” said Rosa Hernandez, Port Director for the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility. “This seizure provides insight and displays how our officers work together in collaboration to keep this dangerous drug off the streets.”
CBP officers encountered a male driver of a tractor trailer with a shipment manifested as green beans. A non-intrusive inspection was utilized to conduct a full scan of the tractor trailer and discovered a total of 308 packages concealed within the shipment. The narcotics were tested and identified as fentanyl pills with a total weight of 776.03 pounds.
The driver was detained for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt and was turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the tractor, trailer, and narcotics were seized by CBP officers.
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Saving our green beans and fresh produce during the last leg of their journeys is no easy feat, and we thank the officers for their service.
