Customs reportedly intercepts 100+ pounds of fentanyl disguised as food shipments
Photo: Fentanyl in flour | U.S. Customs & Border Protection
OTAY MESA, CA. – A port-of-entry intercept revealed deadly food products en route into the U.S.A.
“We are seeing a rise in fentanyl smuggling attempts,” said Anne Maricich, CBP Deputy Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “Our officers are working vigilantly to prevent the entry of this dangerous drug. Our field office is also diligently working on mitigating the risks involved with seizing this lethal narcotic.”
Fentanyl – pills and powder – is deadly. It is taking lives daily.
A recent attempt has been released to alert everyone to the insidious nature of this drug and those who profit by it. A prime example – A July 3rd, 10:50 PM apply-for-entry into the U.S. presented two men, ages 43 and 50, in a 2005 GMC Yukon, with passports and a California ID.
The cursory inspection of the vehicle revealed packages wrapped in plastic – concealed inside food products. “CBP officers searched the entire vehicle and found 46 packages containing fentanyl hidden within flour bags, ground coffee cans, creamer cans and powdered milk cans,” said Maricich, while “both occupants were removed from the vehicle and escorted to the inspection area.”
Officers tallied totals of 42.46 pounds of fentanyl powder and 59.08 pounds of fentanyl pills. The discovered 100+ combined LBS. of fentanyl powder and pills have an estimated street value of more than $1.2 million.
The narcotics and vehicle were seized by CBP officers, as the driver and passenger were turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further investigation.
Both men were transported and booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego.
MISSION STATEMENT – CBP officers at the border crossing in Southern California stop illegal activity while processing millions of legitimate travelers into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.
