U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized nearly 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a commercial shipment of tomatillos at California's Otay Mesa port of entry, and the agency has confirmed that the truck driver's visa was canceled, FreightWaves reported on Thursday, October 22.

Source: FreightWaves

The tractor-trailer arrived from Mexico on October 14 with a delivery destination in the United States. During an inspection, officers discovered the methamphetamine mixed with the produce, FreightWaves reported. Authorities estimated the street value at approximately $2.5 million, which CBP said reflected San Diego-area street values.

CBP announced the seizure on October 16 at a news conference involving its Office of Field Operations, Border Patrol, Air and Marine Operations and Homeland Security Investigations. The original announcement did not disclose any action against the driver. “While our nation's borders are the safest and most secure in history, this CBP seizure shows that drug cartels are not going away,” said Sidney Aki, CBP's San Diego director of field operations, in the announcement reported by FreshPlaza.

Source: FreshPlaza (CBP announcement)

Visa canceled — but driver knowledge not established

FreightWaves reported that CBP confirmed authorities served the driver with a visa cancellation, citing Section 212(a)(2)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act — a provision covering people authorities know or have reason to believe participated in illicit drug trafficking, or knowingly assisted traffickers. That provision can be applied without a criminal conviction.

CBP has not disclosed what evidence supported the cancellation, and investigators have not publicly established whether the driver knowingly took part in transporting the narcotics. CBP has not identified the motor carrier, has not confirmed whether the driver was arrested or transferred to Homeland Security Investigations, and declined to discuss potential criminal charges, citing the ongoing investigation.