Truck driver caught with $21.1 million in fentanyl at Cali/Mexico border

Trucking news and briefs for Friday, April 21, 2023:

Agents at the Otay Mesa, California, port of entry seized more than $21 million worth of fentanyl in a shipment of green beans.U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionU.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa, California, port of entry intercepted 3,520,000 fentanyl pills concealed within a shipment of green beans, worth an estimated street value of $21,120,000.

On April 17 at about 7:21 p.m., CBP officers encountered a 48-year-old male driver of a tractor-trailer loaded with green beans. During an initial inspection, a CBP officer referred the load for an intensive agriculture inspection.

Non-intrusive means were utilized to conduct a full scan of the tractor-trailer, according to a statement from the agency. After examination showed irregularities, CBP officers requested a narcotic detector dog, who keyed on the presence of narcotics.

Officers discovered and extracted a total of 308 packages concealed in the load. The narcotics were tested and identified as fentanyl pills with a total weight of almost 800 pounds.

The driver was detained for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt and was turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. CBP officers seized the tractor, trailer, and narcotics.

[Related: FMCSA tells states to ban drivers with drug, alcohol strikes]