Rosa Hernandez, Port Director of the "Otay Mesa Port of Entry," recently commended the service provided by CBP officers to safeguard U.S borders. Her remarks were made in response to a recent successful confiscation of a shipment of methamphetamine announced in a July 13th press release from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).
“Our officers are always ready to serve and protect our borders,” said Hernandez, according to the press release. “Their collaborative efforts to achieve this common goal are truly remarkable.”
According to the press release, on the morning of July 6 in southern California, officers stopped an individual driving a tractor trailer who wanted to get into the country. After an initial examination of the vehicle, it was decided that a closer look, involving a screening and inspection, was necessary. The process uncovered some irregularities which prompted the officers to meticulously inspect the roof panel of the trailer.
Following a thorough inspection, CBP officers found and removed 138 hidden packages from the roof of the trailer, according to the press release. Tests conducted on the contents of these packages confirmed them to be methamphetamine. The total weight of the drug haul was 1,815.59 pounds, and it was estimated to have a street value of close to $4,000,000.
This incident is not the first of its kind. According to a previous CBP press release, in late May, a similar inspection was conducted on a tractor trailer at the “Otay Mesa Cargo Facility,” resulting in officers finding a huge quantity of methamphetamine. The estimated street value of the load which had been disguised as a shipment of kale, was above $38 million.
According to their website, CBP, with a workforce exceeding 60,000 members, ranks among the largest global law enforcement bodies. Its key responsibility is to prevent the infiltration of terrorists into the U.S., while also ensuring the smooth and legal flow of international travel and trade. Reportedly, CBP is the first consolidated border organization in the United States, integrating customs, border security, immigration, and agricultural protection into a single operation.
