CBP Agents Find Nearly Fifty Pounds Of Meth Concealed Under Fish

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(PatriotPostNews.com) – US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered 47 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a cooler filled with frozen fish. The discovery was made at the Calexico West Port of Entry, located in southern California, when a 31-year-old male driver was selected for additional screening.

SENTRI stands for Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection. The program is similar to TSA’s Pre-check program and allows approved frequent travelers to move through security more quickly than the standard lane. However, once vehicles are diverted for additional screening, they are subject to advanced imaging technology, including non-invasive scans for narcotics and other prohibited or illegal possessions.

Upon additional screening, officers noticed suspicious-looking material concealed in a cooler or ice chest filled with fish. Once the suspicious substance was detected, a CBP K-9 unit was issued to the scene, where the dogs were able to confirm the presence of methamphetamine. CBP officers reported seizing a total of 25 packages of concealed methamphetamine. The driver was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for investigation.

CBP has seen success with the advent of the agency’s Operation Apollo. The program was launched in October 2023 and is designed to combat the growing challenge of narcotics coming across the US border. Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller explained that 47 percent of fentanyl discovered at the border is found at the Calexico port of entry in San Diego. Miller lamented the “daunting” nature of stopping illicit drugs at the border and cited fentanyl as one of the most challenging to detect.

CBP is currently facing harsh criticism as it faces pressure from New Mexico representatives to halt the seizure of state-legal cannabis. State licensed distributors are claiming upwards of $300,000 in losses due to the seizures. “New Mexico’s Democratic Governor, Michelle Lujan, has accused the CBP of targeting New Mexico over non-border states. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas asserted that the CBP policy on state-legal cannabis “has not changed.”