Eight Cocaine Smuggling Attempts Foiled at Otay Mesa Port of Entry
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry Commercial Facility thwarted eight separate attempts to smuggle cocaine into the United States over two days, seizing over 240 pounds of the drug. Eight drivers, all visa holders, were apprehended, and multiple commercial tractor-trailers were seized.
March 4, 2025 Seizures
On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, three significant cocaine seizures occurred:
At approximately 2:00 p.m., a 31-year-old male border crossing card holder was stopped. A K-9 unit detected cocaine hidden in a non-factory compartment in the cabin floor of his empty tractor-trailer. Officers discovered 18 packages containing 46.82 pounds of cocaine.
At 3:00 p.m., a 39-year-old male with a valid border crossing card was apprehended. A similar scenario unfolded, with a K-9 unit leading to the discovery of 24 packages of cocaine (61.11 pounds) concealed in a non-factory compartment in his empty tractor-trailer's cabin floor.
At 3:11 p.m., a 52-year-old male border crossing card holder was stopped. A K-9 alert revealed another hidden compartment containing 25 packages of cocaine, weighing 63.44 pounds, in the cabin floor of his empty tractor-trailer.
March 5, 2025 Seizures
Five more smuggling attempts were foiled on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.:
At approximately 3:00 p.m., non-intrusive imaging technology revealed anomalies in two separate tractor-trailers, each driven by a male border crossing card holder. Subsequent K-9 inspections led to the discovery of 12 packages totaling 30.99 pounds of cocaine.
At 3:10 p.m., a 52-year-old male driver was stopped. A K-9 alert resulted in the discovery of 6 packages of cocaine (15.30 pounds) hidden in a non-factory compartment in his empty tractor-trailer's cabin floor.
At 3:45 p.m., a 43-year-old male B1/B2 visa holder was apprehended. A K-9 unit found 7 packages of cocaine (16.53 pounds) hidden in a non-factory compartment in his empty tractor-trailer's cabin floor.
At 4:30 p.m., a 38-year-old male B1 visa holder was stopped. A K-9 alert revealed 6 packages of cocaine (15.65 pounds) concealed in a non-factory compartment in his empty tractor-trailer's cabin floor.
CBP Statement
“These seizures are a testament to the exceptional training, skills, and dedication of our officers,” stated Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa. “Their vigilance and expertise resulted in eight significant cocaine seizures in just two days. I am incredibly proud of their relentless efforts.”
All subjects were handed over to Homeland Security Investigations, and the narcotics and tractor-trailers were seized by CBP. CBP continues to enhance its enforcement strategies to counter smuggling tactics.