Illegal Narcotics Found in Jalapeño Paste Seized at U.S.-Mexico Border
Authorities announced that thousands of pounds of illegal narcotics were discovered hidden in vats of jalapeño paste at the U.S.-Mexico border last week. The drugs, with an estimated value of $10.4 million, were seized thanks to the efforts of K-9 dogs that detected the suspicious cargo.
The illicit cargo was found inside a commercial tractor-trailer during an inspection at a site in San Diego. U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed the discovery in a news release on Thursday. Initially believed to be carrying a shipment of jalapeño paste, the vehicle was found to contain 349 packages of methamphetamine and cocaine. The drugs were removed from the vats of paste by officers after K-9 dogs alerted to the presence of narcotics.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 28-year-old man holding a valid border crossing card, was identified by CBP. Border security referred him to the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility for inspection after he crossed the entry point into California on Wednesday morning.
During a recent operation, authorities discovered suspicious packages inside a truck. Upon testing, it was revealed that the packages contained a staggering 3,161 pounds of methamphetamine and 522 pounds of cocaine. The drugs were promptly seized by officers and the driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further processing.
"Our K-9 teams play a crucial role in our efforts to combat drug trafficking. Their unmatched detection capabilities make them an invaluable asset," stated Rosa Hernandez, the Port Director of Otay Mesa.
In November alone, the CBP field office in San Diego reported the seizure of more than 14,000 pounds of narcotics at various border crossing points in the area.
In addition to the land seizures, the U.S. Coast Guard recently announced that they offloaded approximately 18,219 pounds of cocaine off the Southern California coast. The estimated street value of the seized cocaine is around $240 million. The drugs were confiscated from multiple vessels suspected of being involved in drug smuggling operations in the waters off Mexico, Central America, and South America.
Drug Traffickers Caught Shipping Narcotics in Unusual Products
In a recent operation, law enforcement agencies in central California successfully apprehended four individuals involved in a transnational drug trafficking ring. The group was charged with exporting large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. Surprisingly, the drugs were concealed within everyday commercial items such as instant noodle packets, car parts, emergency kits, and subwoofers.
