A man trying to sneak hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine into the United States under a shipment of green onions was arrested at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, authorities reported Monday.
The 31-year-old Mexican citizen pulled into the inspection station about 12:30 p.m. Sunday in a tractor-trailer loaded with a cargo listed as "mint leaves and other spices," according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection public affairs.
After CBP agents noticed suspicious anomalies in the shipment during an X-ray examination of the vehicle, a service dog alerted them to the presence of contraband inside it. They then found 40 packages of methamphetamine hidden underneath the produce.
The 614-pound drug haul would have had a street value of about $1.4 million, according to customs officials.
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The suspect, whose name was not released, was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations. CBP personnel seized the big rig and methamphetamine.
