Officials have reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted a car that was trying to import 50 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside an ice chest filled with fish.
According to a statement issued by CBP officials on Wednesday, a 34-year-old man was redirected by agents for additional inspection as he crossed the Calexico West Port of Entry in southern California while driving a 2021 sedan via the SENTRI lane.
Travelers who cross the border frequently usually use the SENTRI lane, which stands for Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection. They pay an annual fee to gain access to the SENTRI lanes at the border crossing, which are typically much shorter than the regular passenger car lanes.
“In the secondary inspection area, a non-intrusive inspection of the vehicle was conducted,” authorities stated. “CBP officers utilized the port’s imaging system to screen the vehicle and observed irregularities within an ice chest found in the vehicle’s trunk. A CBP K-9 team responded and alerted to the presence of narcotics.”
From the ice chest, CBP officials found 25 parcels totaling 47.13 pounds that contained methamphetamine.
According to CBP, the drugs were confiscated and the suspect turned over to agents from the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
“Drug traffickers will go to great lengths in an attempt to deceive our officers,” Roque Caza, Calexico Area Port director stated. “I’m proud of our highly trained officers working diligently every day to combat these dangerous drugs that have claimed so many lives.”
Operation Apollo, which has increased efforts to stop drugs at the U.S.-Mexico border and depends on collaborations between CPB agents and state, local, tribal, and territorial partners intended to target the smuggling of fentanyl into the country, is what led to the stop, according to CPB.
