U.S. Customs and Border Protection Seizes $10 Million in Illegal Narcotics Hidden in Jalapeño Paste at Otay Mesa Cargo Facility

Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers uncovered a massive shipment of illegal narcotics hidden in vats of jalapeño paste at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility in San Diego. The shipment contained over 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine and over 500 pounds of cocaine, with a total estimated value of more than $10 million.

The discovery was made after a K-9 inspection unit alerted officers to inspect the jalapeño paste more closely. Upon further inspection, officers found 349 packages of hard narcotics hidden inside the vats.

The shipment was found in a commercial tractor-trailer being driven by a 28-year-old male with a valid border crossing card. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized the shipment and arrested the driver.

The discovery of the shipment is part of a larger effort by federal agents and state troopers to crack down on cartels smuggling drugs across the southern border. In the past year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seized more than 1.5 million pounds of narcotics at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is continuing to investigate the shipment and the driver.