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. The post CBP seizes $2.5M in meth hidden in tomatillo truck at Otay Mesa; driver’s visa canceled appeared first on FreightWaves .
On October 14, a tractor-trailer loaded with tomatillos entered the Otay Mesa port of entry from Mexico, destined for the U.S. During routine inspection, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found around 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine intermingled with the produce. The street value of the narcotics is estimated at $2.5 million.
Federal authorities subsequently took immigration action against the truck driver, canceling his visa based on Section 212(a)(2)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This provision addresses individuals who are known or suspected to have engaged in illicit drug trafficking or assisted, conspired, or colluded with traffickers.
The driver's involvement in the narcotics transport remains undisclosed, and CBP has not disclosed any evidence supporting the visa cancellation. The agency has not confirmed whether the driver was arrested, transferred to Homeland Security Investigations, or faced criminal charges, as the investigation is ongoing.
Written by urgent.news from FreightWaves's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
