CBP Officers uncover over 646 pounds of meth hidden in green onion shipment at Calexico Commercial Facility

CALEXICO, Calif., - CBP officers from the Calexico Commercial Facility seized more than 646 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of green onions last week.

CBP Officers from the Calexico Port of Entry uncover meth hidden in a shipment of green onions.

The incident occurred on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, when CBP officers encountered a 63-year-old male driving a commercial tractor-trailer carrying a shipment manifested for green onions. The driver, a valid border crossing cardholder, was referred for further inspection.

In the secondary inspection area, a CBP K-9 unit screened the shipment and alerted officers to examine the trailer more closely.

CBP officers conducted a physical examination of the tractor-trailer's floor and discovered 608 packages hidden within the shipment of green onions. The contents of the packages were tested and identified as methamphetamine with a weight of 646.61 pounds and an estimated street value of $775,000.

"This is truly an outstanding demonstration of our officer's ability to think outside of the box and further exemplifies our adaptability to find illicit contraband no matter where narcotics are hidden," said Roque Caza, Port Director for the Area Port of Calexico.

CBP officers seized the narcotics and commercial tractor-trailer while the driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.

This seizure is the result of Operation Apollo, a holistic counter-fentanyl effort that began on Oct. 26, 2023, in southern California, and expanded to Arizona on April 10, 2024. Operation Apollo focuses on intelligence collection and partnerships, and utilizes local CBP field assets augmented by federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to boost resources, increase collaboration, and target the smuggling of fentanyl into the United States.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We facilitate safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.