CBP Officers Seize Over 646 Pounds of Methamphetamine Hidden in Green Onion Shipment at Calexico Commercial Facility

CALEXICO, Calif. — In a significant drug bust, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Calexico Commercial Facility seized over 646 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of green onions last week.

The incident occurred on October 10, 2024, when CBP officers encountered a 63-year-old male driver operating a commercial tractor-trailer. The shipment was declared as green onions, and the driver, a valid border crossing cardholder, was referred for a more thorough inspection.

During the secondary inspection, a CBP K-9 unit alerted officers to investigate the trailer more closely. A detailed physical examination of the tractor-trailer’s floor led to the discovery of 608 packages hidden among the green onions. Testing confirmed that the contents of the packages were methamphetamine, weighing in at 646.61 pounds, with an estimated street value of $775,000.

“This is truly an outstanding demonstration of our officers’ ability to think outside of the box and further exemplifies our adaptability to find illicit contraband no matter where narcotics are hidden,” stated Roque Caza, Port Director for the Area Port of Calexico.

The seized narcotics, along with the commercial tractor-trailer, were taken into custody, while the driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.

This operation is part of Operation Apollo, a comprehensive counter-fentanyl initiative launched on October 26, 2023, in Southern California, which expanded to Arizona on April 10, 2024. Operation Apollo focuses on intelligence collection and partnerships, utilizing local CBP field assets enhanced by federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to increase resources, foster collaboration, and target the smuggling of fentanyl into the United States.