A spicy shipment of jalapeño paste in California was carrying more than just condiments when authorities discovered more than $10.4 million worth of cocaine and methamphetamine were found hidden in the shipment.
During a press release by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, authorities at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility encountered a 28-year-old driver in a commercial tractor-trailer on Dec. 13th, hauling a shipment appearing to be jalapeño paste.
Officials said that although the driver had a valid border crossing card holder, the vehicle and shipment were referred for further examination in a secondary inspection area.
After authorities searched the shipment, which involved a K-9 unit, officers discovered 349 packages in vats of jalapeño paste. Upon further investigation, the packages contained over 3,000 lbs. of methamphetamine and over 500 lbs. of cocaine worth more than $10.4 million.
“Our K-9 teams are an invaluable component of our counter-narcotics operations, providing a reliable and unequaled mobile detection capability,” said Rosa Hernandez, Otay Mesa Port Director. “By implementing local operations under Operation Apollo and CBP’s Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and other Synthetic Drugs, we will continue to secure communities and stifle the growth of transnational criminal organizations, one seizure after another.”
Authorities reported that the driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations while the drugs and tractor-trailer were seized.
In 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seized $140,000 worth of methamphetamine and $81,000 worth of cocaine, its drug seizures dashboard shows.
