CBP officers at the Calexico West Port of Entry recently intercepted a significant quantity of blue fentanyl pills, weighing approximately 122 pounds, concealed in a vehicle. The discovery occurred last Wednesday around 10:06 p.m. when officers encountered a 47-year-old male driving a gray sedan seeking entry into the United States from Mexico.
During an initial inspection, officers found packages within the vehicle's quarter panel and referred both the driver and vehicle for further examination. In the secondary inspection area, non-intrusive technology revealed anomalies throughout the vehicle. A CBP K-9 team confirmed the presence of narcotics.
Officers extracted 98 packages hidden in the vehicle’s quarter panels and back headrest. Testing identified these as fentanyl pills with a total weight of about 122 pounds.
"This fentanyl pill seizure is a big win in our fight against the opioid crisis," stated Roque Caza, Area Port Director of Calexico. "Every pill off the streets is a life potentially saved. I commend our hardworking CBP officers and law enforcement partners for keeping our communities safe."
The narcotics and vehicle were seized by CBP officers, while Homeland Security Investigations took custody of the driver for further investigation.
This operation is part of Operation Apollo, which involves federal, state, and local agencies working together to combat threats from fentanyl and other illicit synthetic drugs.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is recognized as America's frontline defense: it is the nation's largest law enforcement organization and serves as the world's first unified border management agency.
