U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized nearly $12 million in narcotics — including more than six tons of marijuana that was hidden in a cargo truck — from multiple vehicles in San Diego and Imperial Valley Counties over the weekend, officials announced Monday.
Officers at the Otay Mesa port of entry saw a cargo truck arrive with what was supposed to be a load of “artificial nails and LED lamps” at about 1:15 p.m. on Friday, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security news release.
The shipment was referred to the ports imaging system which showed some anomalies inside the trailer, the news release stated.
The officers opened up the trailer to investigate and found 652 large packages of marijuana. The marijuana weighed more than 13,000 pounds and had a street value of $8.1 million, according to the news release.
The driver was arrested as the cargo truck and the marijuana were seized by authorities.
Another $3.7 million worth of narcotics, including cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, were also found by officers in other incidents over the weekend, according to the news release.
The drugs were found in various locations, including a fuel tank, dashboard, muffler, and quarter panels, the news release stated.
“This past weekend demonstrates my officers’ commitment to keeping our country safe,” San Diego CBP Director of Field Operations Pete Flores said in the news release. “They continue to produce results and provide a benefit to the community in which we live.”