U.S. Customs agents seize $38M of Meth hidden in shipment of kale

On May 31, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that their officers assigned to the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility in Southern California seized $38 million worth of methamphetamine hidden inside a shipment of kale.

The seizure went down on Saturday, May 27 around 12:08 p.m. CBP officers said that they encountered a 34-year-old man driving a tractor-trailer, and his shipment was manifested for kale. During their initial inspection, a CBP officer referred the driver and his tractor-trailer for further examination.

A non-intrusive inspection of the tractor trailer was conducted, and irregularities were observed within the commodities. A CBP officer conducted a thorough examination of the shipment and discovered packages concealed within the kale.

CBP officers extracted 268 packages concealed within the shipment of kale. The narcotics were tested and identified as methamphetamine with a total weight of 5,788.41 pounds, and an estimated street value of $38,070,910.

“The collaborative effort of our CBP officers to achieve a common goal is remarkably inspiring,” said Rosa Hernandez, Port Director for the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility. “Our officers exemplify this every day as they dedicate themselves to protecting and serving their communities with unwavering commitment and outstanding work.”

The driver was detained for the alleged narcotics smuggling attempt. CBP officers turned the driver over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation. 

(Source: CBP)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram