Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have intercepted a significant cocaine smuggling operation involving semi trucks at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in California. Over two days, March 4-5, 2025, eight semi trucks were seized, along with hundreds of pounds of cocaine, leading to the arrest of eight visa-holding drivers.
What happened: CBP officers identified illegal compartments in empty commercial trucks during routine inspections. These compartments contained packages of cocaine, discovered thanks to K-9 units and advanced imaging technology.
- The operation took place across two days, with multiple drivers attempting to enter the United States from Mexico.
- Officers confiscated over 240 pounds of cocaine concealed in the trucks.
Significance: Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa, praised the officers' vigilance and their ability to thwart such illegal activities. "Their vigilance and expertise resulted in eight significant cocaine seizures," she noted.
Further details: The CBP's actions are part of a broader commitment to border security, and involved inspecting the non-factory compartments under the cabin floors of the trucks, according to an official CBP media release.
The arrested drivers have been handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further processing. The seized narcotics are now in the possession of the CBP.