CBP Seizes 2.8 Tons of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl at the Otay Mesa Border Facility

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility discovered 2.8 tons of methamphetamine and fentanyl powder hidden within a shipment of plastic household articles.

On Thursday, August 5, 2021, at approximately 5:24 p.m., CBP officers encountered the driver of a tractor and trailer hauling a shipment of plastic household articles. During the inspection, a CBP officer referred the driver along with the shipment for an intensive examination.

CBP officers screened both tractor and trailer using the port’s imaging system which is similar to an x-ray scan and found anomalies within the trailer. Further examination was required at the inspectional dock, a CBP canine team screened and received indication there were narcotics inside of the trailer. CBP officers searched the cargo and discovered a combination of 414 packages consisting of methamphetamine and fentanyl concealed within boxes. CBP officers removed approximately 5,528 pounds of methamphetamine, and 127 pounds of fentanyl powder worth an estimated $12,990,749 million U.S. dollars.

The 53-year-old Mexican male driver was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt. CBP officers turned the driver over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The driver is currently facing federal charges and was transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in San Diego. CBP officers seized the tractor, trailer, and narcotics.  Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman announced federal drug charges today against Defendant Carlos Gerardo Symonds Saavedra following the seizure of more than 2,500 kilograms of methamphetamine and 50 kilograms of fentanyl found in a commercial trailer at the Otay Mesa, California Cargo Port of Entry (POE).

“This amount of fentanyl and methamphetamine is enough to ruin countless lives and fund transnational criminal organizations,” said Pete Flores, CBP Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “I’m proud of our officers’ efforts at all Ports of Entry within the San Diego Field Office to intercept this and all smuggling attempts.”

“By working in unison with our law enforcement partners, DEA has prevented a significant quantity of deadly drugs from reaching Americans,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge John W. Callery. “This seizure is a blow to the cartels, but a victory in the fight against methamphetamine and fentanyl overdose deaths plaguing our county. DEA remains committed to stopping the cartels who will undoubtedly continue trying to bring their deadly drugs into our country.”

“This is a significant accomplishment by our law enforcement partners,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Due to stellar work by law enforcement agents, the government stopped more 5,500 pounds of deadly drugs from entering our country, furthering our fight against addiction and overdose deaths.”

“Over the last several years, we’ve seen many drug overdoses and drug-related deaths throughout this country,” said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant. “HSI and its law enforcement partners undoubtedly saved lives by preventing this massive drug shipment from entering our communities. While this drug seizure is significant, we know that these transnational criminal organizations will continue to illegally smuggle their illicit drugs across our border. HSI and its law enforcement partners will remain vigilant in our mission to prevent these drugs from crossing the border and entering our communities.”

Sources
DEA

CBP