CBP thwarts narcotics smuggling attempt in California

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have detailed the interception of nearly 900,000 fentanyl pills concealed inside porcelain sinks at the Otay Mesa port of entry’s facility in California.

“Narcotics traffickers will try new and innovative ways to smuggle dangerous drugs across our borders, but CBP officers are always on their toes,” Otay Mesa Port of Entry Port Director Rosa Hernandez said. “Thanks to our officers’ experience, this interception prevented hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills from ever reaching our communities.”

Per CBP, the incident occurred on June 26, when a 45-year-old male Mexican national applied for entry into the United States through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry while driving a white 2000 Ford cargo van.

The driver presented a valid border crossing card and a shipping manifest for two porcelain sinks, when a CBP officer referred the driver along with the vehicle and shipment for further inspection.

The CPB indicated while screening the vehicle using a port imaging system, officers discovered anomalies within the shipment and upon further inspection, a canine detection team alerted to the porcelain sinks.

A thorough examination of the sinks revealed a total of 12 packages containing approximately 858,000 blue pills that tested positive for fentanyl, with authorities determining the total weight of the fentanyl was 189.15 pounds and possessed an estimated street value of $2,574,000.

CBP officers seized the shipment, cargo van and fentanyl pills and turned the driver over to Homeland Security Investigations for further processing.