It was a seizure of fentanyl and methamphetamine worth nearly $1 million in street value (Picture: Special)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the Andrade border portin California, set a new record for synthetic drug seizures.

It involved a seizure of fentanyl and methamphetamine with a street value of nearly $1 million. Officers found the drugs hidden in the fuel tank of a vehicle attempting to cross the border from Mexico.

The events occurred on Sunday, February 26, when CBP officers observed a woman driving a 2016 pickup truck from Mexico.

During the first interview, the officer decided to refer the woman to a secondary checkpoint.

@CBP
@CBP

At this station, officers conducted a non-intrusive inspection of the vehicle. A K-9 (police dog) team also circled the truck and alerted officers to a suspicious smell, according to a statement from CBP officials.

Officers began a physical search of the truck. Upon inspection, they discovered 76 medicine packets hidden in the fuel tank.authorities report. Drug testing has given positive indications of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Officers seized 46 packs of fentanyl pills. The packages weighed about 54 pounds (24 kilograms), authorities said. Its estimated market value is nearly 747,000 US dollars.

The remaining 30 packages contained approximately 32 pounds (14 kilograms) of methamphetamine. Authorities have estimated its value at around 212 thousand dollars.

(Photo: Sedena)
(Photo: Sedena)

In total, the two drugs were worth an approximate value of almost one million dollars, which resulted in a new record for the port of entry of Andrade.

Officers arrested the woman, a 37-year-old US citizen, and handed her over to the ICE Homeland Security Investigations to continue the investigation.

Fentanyl is one of the deadliest threats our country has ever faced. It is paramount to continue to educate the public about fentanyl and the dangers it poses to the health and safety of the American people,” said Sidney Aki, director of field operations for CBP San Diego.

“Day after day, our officers work diligently on the front lines to secure our borders and keep our communities safe“, wide.

Categorized in: