July 16, 2011 (San Diego) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa cargo facility discovered 1,420 pounds of marijuana in boxes of serrano chili peppers Wednesday evening.
On July 13, a Mexican citizen, 27, entered the cargo port driving a 2000 International tractor and pulling a refrigerated trailer with cargo manifested as chili peppers. A CBP officer noticed the driver’s nervous demeanor and referred the conveyance for an intensive examination.
Officers ran the tractor trailer through the port’s x-ray imaging system that showed anomalies with the cargo. Officers then unloaded the shipment; they opened the boxes and discovered 112 wrapped packages of marijuana, comingled with serrano chili peppers.
The driver was arrested and transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center. CBP seized the marijuana, tractor, and trailer.
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