$21M worth of fentanyl found in green beans shipment at San Diego border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized more than 800 pounds of fentanyl pills that were hidden in a shipment of green beans on Monday at the U.S.-Mexico border. 

Officers at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego seized 3,520,000 fentanyl pills that were found inside a tractor-trailer that was transporting a shipment of green beans. The CBP said the drugs have an estimated street value of $21,120,000. 

"On Monday, at approximately 7:21 p.m., CBP officers encountered a 48-year-old male driver of a tractor-trailer, with a shipment manifested as green beans. During the initial inspection, a CBP officer referred the driver and cargo load for an intensive agriculture inspection," the CBP said in a statement. 

"A non-intrusive inspection was utilized to conduct a full scan of the tractor-trailer. After examination, irregularities were observed and CBP officers requested a CBP human/narcotic detector dog, who alerted CBP officers to the presence of narcotics," it continued. 

The drugs were found in 308 packages concealed within the boxes of green beans. After conducting narcotics tests, it was confirmed that the pills were fentanyl. 

The driver was detained for attempting to smuggle narcotics. He was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for processing. The truck and the drugs were also seized. 

"CBP recognizes our officers’ exceptional performance and applauds their continued efforts to protect and serve our communities," said Rosa Hernandez, the port director at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility. 

"This seizure provides insight and displays how our officers work together in collaboration to keep this dangerous drug off the streets," she added. 

The San Diego area has seen a record-breaking rise in fentanyl seizures in 2023. During the first month of the year alone, CBP agents for the sector reported a 300% increase in fentanyl seizures compared to the same period a year before.