Massive $5M Meth Bust at San Diego Border CBP Thwarts Drug Smugglers’ Watermelon Scheme

More than $5 million worth of methamphetamine, cunningly disguised as watermelons, has been intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility near San Diego. The drugs were discovered last Friday when a 29-year-old man drove a truck into the United States from Mexico with a shipment that reportedly contained watermelons, according to CBP.

The thorough inspection that led to this finding was part of Operation Apollo, an initiative that began in Southern California in October 2023 and recently expanded to Arizona. According to the CBP statement, the goal of the operation is to collectively step up the fight against fentanyl smuggling in particular. CBP has had to continually adapt to address the changing tactics of drug cartels attempting to smuggle contraband into the U.S. CBP officers specifically directed the vehicle for a more intensive secondary inspection, using their training to detect hidden threats.

During the second investigation, agents unloaded the cargo and subjected it to a close examination. Hidden among the fake fruit were 1,220 packages wrapped in paper, all containing methamphetamine, weighing a total of 4,587 pounds. Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Port of Otay Mesa, expressed pride in the team’s ability to thwart this drug smuggling attempt, saying, “I am incredibly proud of our team for their exceptional work over the past several weeks in uncovering sophisticated and diverse smuggling methods,” according to the CBP statement.

The seized narcotics have a street value of more than $5 million, a significant blow to the illicit drug market. After the drugs were identified, the driver of the trailer was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation, while authorities seized the shipment and vehicle. The success of this interdiction is a testament to the continued vigilance and multi-agency cooperation required to effectively protect our borders from the scourge of drugs destined for American streets. “As drug cartels continue to evolve their smuggling techniques, we will continue to find new and better ways to prevent these dangerous drugs and other contraband from entering the country,” Hernandez added via CBP.