United States Officers Seize 1,600 Pounds of Meth at Otay Mesa.

Officers of the United States Customs and Border Protection have seized nearly 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine at the Otay Mesa port of entry in southern California.

Donjoe Media gathered that the seizure was made on October 14 after a commercial truck coming from Mexico was stopped for checks. The truck’s manifest claimed it was carrying fresh tomatillos, but officers decided to carry out a secondary search.

During the search, the officers found large quantities of meth hidden among the produce. Authorities put the street value of the drugs at about $2.5 million. The discovery prevented the narcotics from entering American communities.

The driver’s visa was immediately cancelled. According to CBP, the action was taken under Section 212(a)(2)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows cancellation of visas for persons suspected of involvement in drug trafficking.

Officials did not say if the driver knew about the drugs, but said border protocols allow for immediate action when there is reasonable belief of smuggling.

The seizure comes as cartels are changing tactics. San Diego Air and Marine Branch Director Daniel Jonas said gangs now test sea routes as land borders get tighter. His unit alone seized over 302,000 pounds of drugs and $4.5 million in illicit cash in the 2026 fiscal year.

Otay Mesa is one of the busiest commercial crossings in the US. Thousands of trucks pass through daily, and smugglers often hide drugs inside perishable goods to force quick clearance. Officers said they now use X-ray scanners and sniffer dogs to detect such loads.

CBP said synthetic drugs like meth are now preferred by cartels because they are cheap to produce in labs and easy to pack in small quantities. The agency noted that meth addiction has fuelled violent crime and health crises across many US cities https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-officers-seize-methamphetamine-worth-millions-otay-mesa.

The agency said losing 1,600 pounds is a major financial blow to the cartel behind it, as it disrupts payments to enforcers and creates friction with rival gangs.

Federal investigators are now tracing shipping documents to identify the distribution network behind the shipment. The Department of Justice is expected to pursue charges once the organizers are identified.

By Jonadab Oluikpe