$2.3 Million Worth of Marijuana Seized From Big Rig Hauling Jalapeño Peppers

San Diego, CA – A Mexican truck driver was arrested last week after U.S. Border Patrol agents found almost four tons of marijuana hidden in a shipment of jalapeño peppers.

CBP officers assigned to the Otay Mesa cargo facility made the seizure on Thursday, August 15 at approximately about 6:15 p.m.

Officials said a 37-year-old male Mexican citizen entered the port of entry driving a tractor-trailer with cargo manifested as jalapeño peppers.

The CBP officer subsequently referred the truck to a secondary inspection.

When the conveyance arrived to the dock, a canine team roving the area alerted to the palletized shipment of peppers, according to CBP.

Officers then probed the shipment and discovered a “leafy-green like substance that field-tested positive for the properties of marijuana,” CBP said.

Agents then removed 314 large wrapped packages of marijuana co-mingled within the shipment of jalapeño peppers, weighing 7,560 pounds and valued at $2.3 million.

CBP seized the truck and marijuana.

“I am proud of the officers for seizing this significant marijuana load,” said Otay Mesa Port Director, Rosa Hernandez.

“Not only did they prevent the drugs from reaching our community, they also prevented millions of dollars of potential profit from making it into the hands of a transnational criminal organization.”

This latest bust follows an August 13 seizure at the cargo facility of 10,642 pounds of marijuana in a shipment of plastic auto parts.

Very proud of our CBP officers in Otay Mesa! Last night they seized 7,560 pounds of marijuana in a shipment of jalapeno peppers and on Tuesday they seized another 10,642 pounds of marijuana in a shipment of plastic auto parts. Well done! pic.twitter.com/4EnoDGXWl3
— Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan (@CBPMarkMorgan) August 17, 2019